A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamrick family of Germany.
Reg. 1328 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 sa. au griffon d'or, cour. du même, tenant de sa patte sen. abaissée un marteau d'arg. et soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; le champ chapé-ployé: à dextre d'arg. à une aigle cont. de sa., cour. d'or, à sen. d'azur à un rocher de trois coupeaux d'arg., surm. de trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un griffon iss. et cont. d'or, cour. du même, tenant de sa patte dextre levée un marteau d'arg. l. d'arg. et de sa.; 2° une aigle iss. de sa., cour. d'or; l. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1712
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Map of Germany showing where the Hamrick arms are recorded
The Hamrick arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1712.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Hamrick 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 Hamrick Family in Germany
The Hamrick family name traces its roots back to the Germanic regions of Europe, with documented evidence placing early ancestors in the Bavarian territory by 1712. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in rural or forested areas, as many surnames of that time were derived from local geography or specific trade skills. As the family moved through the German states, they likely navigated the complex social and political shifts of the eighteenth century, including the pressures of land ownership and regional conflicts. Many individuals carrying this name eventually sought new opportunities by migrating across the Atlantic, carrying their cultural traditions and linguistic heritage into the American colonies. This transition marked a significant shift in the family story, as they adapted to a new environment while maintaining the identity established in their Bavarian homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haimric
Derived from Germanic elements meaning home and ruler or powerful leader.
This name
HamrickA surname denoting a descendant of a powerful ruler of the home or estate.
also spelled
Hamrik
Hemrik
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jones, Henry Z., Palatine Families of New York: A Study of the German Immigrants Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710, 1985
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchführung, 1712
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