Map of Germany showing where the Schrack arms are recorded
The Schrack arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Schrack 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 Schrack Family in Germany
The family name Schrack is rooted in the German language and likely originated as a descriptive nickname. In Middle High German, the term "schrac" or "schrak" referred to someone who was thin, angular, or perhaps moved with a jerky, sudden motion. As surnames became common in Europe, this word was used to identify individuals based on their physical appearance or personality traits. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Nuremberg. During this era, Nuremberg served as a major center for trade and skilled craftsmanship, providing a stable environment for families like the Schracks to work as artisans or merchants. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant cultural growth in Bavaria, helping to shape the local community before many members of the family eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schrag
A Middle High German term referring to something slanted or oblique.
This name
SchrackAn occupational or descriptive name for someone who was crooked, lopsided, or lived on a slope.
also spelled
Schrok
Shreck
Shrock
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Reichsstadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
