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
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
What the shield shows
A blue background carrying three gold stars. Above the shield sits a crowned helmet, and on it an arm in armour, the gauntleted hand raised and brandishing a sword.
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
The surname Kruger is rooted in the Middle Low German word *kroger*, which translates to innkeeper or tavern owner. In the medieval period, surnames were often created to describe a person’s occupation or their role within a village. Because inns served as the central hub for travelers, merchants, and local news, the innkeeper held a position of social importance. Over time, the name evolved from a job description into a permanent family name that was passed down through generations.
By the mid-18th century, the family was well-established in the Mecklenburg region of northern Germany. Historical records confirm their presence there by 1765. During this era, Mecklenburg was a rural society where families were often tied to the land and local trade. As members of the community, the Krugers likely participated in the agricultural and small-town life that defined the region. The name spread across the German-speaking lands as families migrated, but the roots in Mecklenburg remain a significant part of their history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kruoc
krūch
Pitcher, tavern.
This name
KrugerAn innkeeper or a maker of stoneware jugs.
also spelled
Krueger
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
Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin (State Main Archive of Schwerin). Mecklenburgische Kirchenbücher (Mecklenburg Church Records), 1765
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
