A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greulich family of Germany.
Reg. 2573 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de gu. à un poisson d'azur, posé en pal; au 2 d'arg. à quatre chapeaux de gu., 1, 2 et 1.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Greulich Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Greulich arms are recorded
The Greulich arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Greulich 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Greulich Family in Germany
The surname Greulich originates from the German language and is rooted in the Middle High German word greulich, which historically described someone who was stern, serious, or perhaps even fearsome in their demeanor. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well-established within the region of Bavaria. During this era, life in the Bavarian countryside was defined by agricultural traditions and the influence of local parish communities. Families like the Greulichs were often tied to the land and the social structures of their villages, where their name served as a way to identify their lineage and character among their neighbors. As the family grew, they became part of the long history of the German-speaking people who navigated the changing political and social landscapes of Central Europe throughout the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
greulich
Derived from the Middle High German adjective grūlich meaning horrible or terrible.
This name
GreulichOriginally a nickname for a person with a fearsome or intimidating appearance or temperament.
also spelled
Greulick
Grolik
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
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
