A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Krause family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0605 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 gu. à un mur crén. d'azur, maçonné de sa., mouv. de la p. et touchant les bords de l'écu; ledit mur surmonté d'une étoile d'or au-dessous d'un croiss. versé du même. Brl. d'or et de gu. C.: l'étoile et le croiss. L. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyHalle, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Krause arms are recorded
The Krause arms were recorded in Halle, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Krause 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 Krause Family in Germany
The surname Krause originates from the Middle High German word "krus," which was a descriptive nickname used to identify someone with curly or frizzy hair. In the social structure of medieval Germany, people often received these names to distinguish individuals within a growing population. By the time your ancestors were documented in the city of Halle in 1765, the name had already been established for centuries across various German-speaking regions. During this era, Halle was a prominent center for trade and salt production, making it a hub for families seeking stability and professional growth. As the family settled in this region, they became part of the local urban fabric, contributing to the cultural and economic life of Saxony-Anhalt. The transition from a simple descriptive nickname to a formal family name reflects the broader historical shift toward organized record-keeping and the development of modern German identity.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur gu.; à un buste d'homme, br. sur le coupé, chevelé d'or, hab. d'arg. à brandebourgs d'or. C.: le buste; entre un vol, de gu. et d'azur. L. d'azur et de gu.”
LivoniaLivonia, c. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Krause arms are recorded
The Krause arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1772.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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
Livonia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Krause Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Germany when the Krause arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Livonia.
Origin & History of the Krause Family in Poland
The surname Krause is deeply rooted in the linguistic and cultural shifts of Northern Europe, particularly within the regions that transitioned between German and Slavic influence. By the time the family was documented in Livonia in 1772, the name had already established itself as a common identifier for those of Germanic descent living along the Baltic coast. In the context of Poland and its historical territories, the name often appeared in areas where German settlers had migrated centuries earlier to develop trade and agriculture. Because the name is derived from the Middle High German word for curly hair, it likely began as a descriptive nickname before becoming a permanent family identifier. As the borders of Poland and the surrounding Baltic lands changed through political partitions and shifting empires, families named Krause often found themselves navigating complex social roles as merchants, landowners, or administrators. This movement across borders helped the name persist as a recognizable marker of a family with deep ties to the professional and civic life of the Baltic region.
Krause Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
krus
Middle High German term for curly or frizzy hair.
This name
KrauseA descriptive nickname for a person with curly or frizzy hair.
also spelled
Krauss
Kraus
Related arms
van Eycksimilar arms
Crausevariant spelling
Kraussvariant spelling
Ludwigrecorded with Krause, same area
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
Stadtarchiv Halle, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Halle, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
