A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hermanson family of Sweden.
Reg. 6958 · Swedish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
branchPeace, and new growth
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec. en saut.: au 1 d'arg. à une palme de sin., posée en bande, et une branche de laurier de sin., posée en barre, passées en saut.; au 2 parti: a. d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; b. d'azur à une couronne d'or; au 3 d'or à un ours pass. de sa., et au chef denché d'azur, ch. d'une étoile (5) d'arg. entre deux bes. du même; au 4 coupé: a. d'or à un arbre de sin.; b. d'azur à une croix de Lorraine d'arg. Au saut. br. sur les écartelures, la branche en bande tranchée d'arg. sur azur, et la branche en barre taillée d'arg. sur azur. Sur le tout tranché: a. trianglé d'or et de sa.; b. de sa. à un triangle renv. d'or, ch. d'une rose de gu.; à une rivière au nat., posée en bande ondée, br. sur le tranché. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º une colombe d'arg., le vol levé, tenant en son bec une bague d'or; 2º un avant-bras, posé en pal, arm. au nat., la main de carn. tenant une branche de laurier de sin., en pal; entre un vol, coupé alt. d'or et d'azur. S.: à dextre un lion reg. d'or, lamp. de gu.; à sen. un ours reg. de sa.”
Swedenc. 1762
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Map of Sweden showing where the Hermanson arms are recorded
The Hermanson arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1762.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Adolf Fredrik of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Adolf Fredrik of Sweden
1751–1771
Reigning in Sweden when the Hermanson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Hermanson Family in Sweden
The family name Hermanson is a classic example of a Swedish patronymic surname, which means it was originally formed by combining a father’s given name with the suffix "son." In this case, the name indicates that the earliest ancestors were the children of a man named Herman. By the time the family was recorded living in Stockholm in 1762, Sweden was transitioning away from strictly using these patronymic names toward more permanent family surnames. During the eighteenth century, Stockholm was a bustling center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Hermansons were often part of the growing urban middle class. As the family established themselves in the capital, the name evolved from a simple description of parentage into a fixed hereditary identity that was passed down through generations. This shift reflects the broader social changes in Sweden as the population became more mobile and professionalized during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herman
Derived from the Germanic elements for army and man.
This name
HermansonA patronymic surname meaning son of Herman.
also spelled
Hermansone
Hermanson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Otterbjörk, Roland, Svenska förnamn, 1964
Stahre, Nils-Gustaf, Ortnamn i Stockholm, 1986
Stockholm City Archives (Stockholms stadsarkiv), Mantalslängder för Stockholms stad
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
branchPeace, and new growth
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
