Map of Germany showing where the Quass arms are recorded
The Quass arms were recorded in Brunswick, c. 1765.
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 Quass 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 Quass Family in Germany
The surname Quass is deeply rooted in the historical region of Brunswick, which is located in modern-day Germany. Family records confirm that members of the Quass family were established residents in this area by 1765. The name itself is likely of Slavic origin, as many surnames in eastern and northern Germany evolved from the linguistic influence of the Polabian Slavs who lived in these territories centuries ago. During the eighteenth century, families in Brunswick often worked as skilled tradespeople or farmers, contributing to the local economy of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, living through a time of significant political change as the Holy Roman Empire began to shift toward the modern era. By remaining in the Brunswick area for generations, the early Quass family helped define the local community and preserved their identity through the turbulent history of central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kwas
A Slavic term referring to a fermented sour beverage or drink.
This name
QuassAn occupational name for a brewer or a nickname for someone with a sour disposition.
also spelled
Quass
Quasse
Quase
Kwas
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, 1972
Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv (Wolfenbüttel), Kirchenbücher der Stadt Braunschweig, 1765
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