A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graw family of Germany.
Reg. 3900 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au lion naiss. de gu., mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'or à trois têtes de boeuf de gu. A une rivière au nat., en fasce, br. sur le coupé. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Graw Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Graw arms are recorded
The Graw arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Graw arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Graw Family in Germany
The family name Graw has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. In the German language, the name is closely linked to the word "grau," which means gray. During the Middle Ages, names were often chosen to describe a person’s physical appearance, such as the color of their hair or the shade of their clothing. It is likely that the first people to carry this name were identified by their gray hair or perhaps by the gray garments they wore while working. As families began to settle into specific towns and villages, these descriptive nicknames became permanent surnames that were passed down through generations. By the mid-18th century, the Graw family had become a part of the local Bavarian community, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grau
A Middle High German term referring to the color gray.
This name
GrawA descriptive nickname for someone with gray hair or wearing gray clothing.
also spelled
Graw
Grawee
Grawes
Grahva
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
