Map of Germany showing where the Kretzmann arms are recorded
The Kretzmann 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 Kretzmann 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 Kretzmann Family in Germany
The family name Kretzmann originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep roots established in the Bavarian landscape by at least the mid-eighteenth century. Linguistically, the name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "kretze," which referred to a woven basket or a pack used by traveling merchants and laborers. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name may have been tradespeople or farmers who transported goods to local markets. By 1765, records indicate that families carrying this surname were well-integrated into the social and agricultural fabric of Bavaria. Life during this period centered on village communities where families often worked as skilled craftsmen or landholders. As these individuals moved through the region, the name became a permanent marker of their identity and their contribution to the local economy of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kretz
A Middle High German term for a basket or pannier.
This name
KretzmannAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of baskets.
also spelled
Kurtsman
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
