A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kratt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4451 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un tertre de sin., supp. une couronne d'or, de laquelle s'élève une croix de Lorraine d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à l'aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. du champ, celle du 3 cont. Sur le tout coupé: a. d'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'arg.; b. d'arg. à trois pommes de gu., les queues en bas. Cq. cour. C.: les meubles du 1. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1703
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Map of Germany showing where the Kratt arms are recorded
The Kratt arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1703.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Kratt 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 Kratt Family in Germany
The surname Kratt is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the Kratt family were established residents in this area, living through a period defined by the War of the Spanish Succession. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname used to identify individuals based on their local dialect or specific personal traits. During the 1700s, families in rural Bavaria were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trade crafts, which helped them maintain a consistent presence in their home villages for generations. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Bavarian countryside, navigating the complex political and religious shifts that defined life in the Holy Roman Empire. Their presence in 1703 serves as a clear marker of a lineage that was already well-integrated into the local community during a time of significant European conflict.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, ch. de trois roses de gu., acc. en chef d'une ancre d'arg. en bande et en p. d'une gerbe d'or en bande. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° trois roses de gu., bout. d'or, tigées et feuillées de sin.; entre deux prob. coupés alt. d'azur et d'or; l. d'or et d'azur; 2° un vol à l'antique d'azur, ch. d'une bande d'or; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1792
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Map of Austria showing where the Kratt arms are recorded
The Kratt arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1792.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1792
Granting Authority for the Kratt Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Germany when the Kratt arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Kratt Family in Austria
The family name Kratt has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1792. In this region, the name likely emerged as a descriptive term linked to the rugged terrain or the specific agricultural practices of the high Alpine valleys. Life in Tyrol during the late eighteenth century was defined by small, tight-knit communities that relied on cattle farming and forestry to survive the harsh winters. Families like the Kratts often lived in isolated farmsteads that had been passed down through generations. Because the region was part of the Habsburg Empire, these early ancestors were subject to strict local record-keeping practices that tracked births, marriages, and land ownership within parish registers. These documents show that the family was well-integrated into the social fabric of the Alpine villages, contributing to the local economy and the distinct cultural traditions that still define the Tyrolean identity today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kratz
A scratch or a scrape on the skin.
This name
KrattA nickname for someone with a scratchy appearance or a prickly personality.
also spelled
Krauter
Krauten
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
