A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kruger family of Germany.
Reg. 4777 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“D'azur à trois étoiles d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un bras arm., la main gantelée brandissant une épée, le tout au nat.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1765
Where the Kruger Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Kruger arms are recorded
The Kruger arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1765.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Kruger 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Kruger Family in Germany
PronunciationKROO-ger/ˈkryːɡɐ/
The surname Kruger is a classic German occupational name that originated from the Middle Low German word *kroger*, which translates to innkeeper or tavern owner. During the medieval period, surnames were often adopted to describe a person’s trade, and those who managed local public houses or alehouses frequently became known by this title. By the time members of the family were documented in the Mecklenburg region in 1765, the name was already well-established across northern Germany. Families in this area during the eighteenth century were often tied to the land or specific local crafts, and the name served as a social identifier that linked individuals to the essential service of providing hospitality and drink to their neighbors. This history reflects the transition of the name from a simple description of a job into a permanent family identity that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Krug
A ceramic or earthenware drinking vessel or pitcher.
This name
KrugerAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of pottery jugs and mugs.
also spelled
Krueger
Related arms
Kruegervariant spelling
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
