A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kriese family of Germany.
Reg. 0625 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 deux faisceaux d'épis d'or, chaque faisceau de trois pièces. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, coupé alt. d'azur et d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Kriese Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Kriese arms are recorded
The Kriese 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 Kriese 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 Kriese Family in Germany
The family name Kriese has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm family members were established by 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, as was common for surnames developing in German-speaking lands during the late medieval and early modern periods. Many families in this region during the eighteenth century were closely tied to the land, often working as skilled craftsmen or farmers who played essential roles in their local village economies. Because Bavaria was a patchwork of small territories and independent towns at that time, families like the Krieses often maintained strong connections to their specific parish. These local church records served as the primary way to track births, marriages, and deaths, helping to preserve the family identity across generations. By settling in this culturally rich part of southern Germany, the early Kriese family became part of a long tradition of community life that defined the social structure of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kris
A shortened form of the name Christian or Christ.
This name
KrieseA topographic or habitational name referring to someone who lived near a cross or a Christian shrine.
also spelled
Kriese
Kriesh
Kriess
Krees
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der bayerischen Pfarreien, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
