A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Krenz family of Germany.
Reg. 0962 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 deux chev. renv. d'or, surm. chacun d'une boule du même et acc. en p. de deux palmes de sin., passées en saut. C.: un lion iss. d'or, cour. du même, tenant une flèche d'arg. en pal, le fût passé dans une boule d'or; entre deux prob., celle à dextre éc. d'azur et d'or, celle à sen. éc. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Krenz arms are recorded
The Krenz arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Krenz 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 Krenz Family in Germany
The family name Krenz is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Central Europe, specifically within the regions that now comprise Germany and Poland. The name is widely considered to be a variation of the Slavic word "kren," which translates to horseradish. During the medieval period, it was common for families to adopt surnames based on local crops, trade goods, or distinct physical features. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already been established for generations as a way to identify families within their local agricultural communities. Living in Bavaria during the mid-eighteenth century suggests that your family was likely part of the hardworking rural population that shaped the cultural and economic landscape of the region. These early Krenz ancestors were part of a long tradition of people who maintained deep ties to the land, passing their name down through centuries as a marker of their specific heritage and local identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kranz
A circular garland, wreath, or crown made of flowers or leaves.
This name
KrenzA topographic or occupational name for someone who made wreaths or lived near a landmark.
also spelled
Krinze
Krinzh
Krinzz
Krints
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen, 1765
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