A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grossman family of Germany.
Reg. 0708 · 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 Grossman Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Grossman arms are recorded
The Grossman 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 Grossman 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 Grossman Family in Germany
The surname Grossman originated as a descriptive nickname in German-speaking regions, derived from the Middle High German words "groz," meaning large or great, and "man," meaning person. It was typically used to identify a man of significant physical stature or someone who held a position of importance within a local community. By the late eighteenth century, the name was well-established in the region of Saxony. Historical records confirm that members of the Grossman family were living in this area by 1781, likely working as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople in the rural villages that dotted the Saxon landscape. As the family grew and moved throughout the German states, the name remained a common marker of their heritage, reflecting the practical naming traditions of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gross
A German adjective meaning large, big, or great.
This name
GrossmanAn occupational or descriptive name for a large or tall man.
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1781
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
