A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grimme family of Germany.
Reg. 1461 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. au lion d'or; l'écu bordé d'arg. C.: une tête et col de lion d'or. L. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1792
Where the Grimme Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Grimme arms are recorded
The Grimme arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1792.
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.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Germany when the Grimme 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 Grimme Family in Germany
The surname Grimme is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Germanic regions, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of ancient personal names. By the late eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the southern German region of Bavaria. During this era, life in Bavaria was defined by a transition from traditional rural farming practices toward the early stages of industrial growth. Families like the Grimmes were often deeply connected to the local landscape, serving as essential members of their village communities through skilled labor or agriculture. As they lived through the political shifts of the late 1700s, these ancestors helped shape the social fabric of their districts, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and local identity that persisted through the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grim
Old Norse and Germanic term meaning mask, helmet, or fierce.
This name
GrimmeA topographic name for someone who lived near a mask-like or rugged landscape feature.
also spelled
Gryme
Grim
Related arms
Grimvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), General-Landes-Direktion-Akten
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
