A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grosman family of Germany.
Reg. 8994 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de sa. à trois étoiles d'or; au 2 d'or à trois montagnes rangées de sa., et à la bord. du même. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, entre deux prob. de sa., ch. chacune de deux fasces d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1781
Where the Grosman Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Grosman arms are recorded
The Grosman arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1781.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Grosman 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Grosman Family in Germany
The surname Grosman is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational or physical identifier. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "groz," meaning large or great, combined with "man," which translates to man. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Saxony, a historic area in Germany known for its rich cultural and industrial development. During this period, families often adopted surnames to distinguish themselves within growing village populations or to denote a person of significant stature or importance in the community. As the family lived in Saxony in 1781, they were part of a society undergoing major administrative changes, where record-keeping became increasingly standardized to track citizens for tax and military purposes. This transition helped solidify the spelling and usage of the name across generations as the family moved through the changing landscapes of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gross
A Germanic adjective meaning large, big, or great.
This name
GrosmanAn occupational or descriptive name for a person of large physical stature.
also spelled
Grosman
Grossman
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister, 1781
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