A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greis family of Germany.
Reg. 5349 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un vieillard, hab. d'arg., s'appuyant sur un bâton. C.: le vieillard, iss., supp. de sa main dextre une bague châtonnée.”
GermanyFrancfort s, c. 1765
Where the Greis Arms Were Recorded
Francfort s
Map of Germany showing where the Greis arms are recorded
The Greis arms were recorded in Francfort s, c. 1765.
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 Greis 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 Greis Family in Germany
The family name Greis has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in Frankfurt as early as 1765. The name is generally considered a topographic or descriptive surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word "gris," which often referred to a person with gray hair or a gray beard. During the eighteenth century, Frankfurt served as a major center for trade and commerce, attracting families from across the region who were looking to establish themselves in the city’s growing merchant and artisan classes. As these early ancestors settled into urban life, they became part of a complex social fabric defined by guild memberships and local civic duties. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting the migration patterns and naming traditions common to the central German territories during the late Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gris
Old High German term referring to the color gray or gray-haired.
This name
GreisA descriptive nickname for an individual with gray hair or a gray complexion.
also spelled
Greys
Grice
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
Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt am Main, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
