A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grim family of Germany.
Reg. 4575 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'or, accosté de deux étoiles (8) du même et tenant de ses pattes une tige arr. fleurie de trois pièces d'arg. C.: six roses d'arg., tigées et feuillées de sin.”
GermanyDachau Bav, c. 1765
Where the Grim Arms Were Recorded
Dachau
Map of Germany showing where the Grim arms are recorded
The Grim arms were recorded in Dachau Bav, 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 Grim 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 Grim Family in Germany
The surname Grim originates from the Middle High German word *grim*, which translates to fierce, stern, or angry. During the Middle Ages, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person who possessed a particularly intense or serious personality. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the Bavarian town of Dachau. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this region, which was then part of the Electorate of Bavaria. At that time, Dachau was a bustling market town known for its craftspeople and agricultural trade. Families like the Grims were typically integrated into the local community through their roles as farmers, tradesmen, or artisans, contributing to the social and economic fabric of the town long before it became known for its later historical significance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grimr
Old Norse term meaning mask, helmet, or a fierce person.
This name
GrimDerived from a nickname for a stern, fierce, or masked individual.
also spelled
Grym
Grime
Related arms
Griimvariant spelling
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
Stadtarchiv Dachau, Bürger- und Einwohnerverzeichnisse, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
