A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schreier family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2342 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un mur de gu., sommé d'une aigle ép. naiss. de sa., chaque tête cour. d'or. C.: une aigle ép. de sa., chaque tête cour. d'or; entre deux guidons, d'arg. et de gu., ch. chacun d'une couronne d'or.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1680
Where the Schreier Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Schreier arms are recorded
The Schreier arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1680.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Schreier 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Schreier Family in Germany
The surname Schreier originated in the German-speaking regions as a descriptive nickname, likely identifying an individual with a loud voice or someone who worked as a town crier. In the context of Bavaria, where records confirm the family’s presence by 1680, the name reflects the social structure of the late seventeenth century. During this era, many families were deeply rooted in local agricultural or trade communities, and their names often served as a way to distinguish individuals within a village. As the family established itself in the Bavarian landscape, they became part of the regional history that saw the transition from the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War into a period of slow economic and social rebuilding. By maintaining a consistent presence in these southern German territories, the Schreier family participated in the long-term development of local parish life and the traditional craft systems that defined the era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un homme, hab. de sa., tort. d'or et de sa., la main dextre levée et étendue. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme, iss., entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Schreier Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Schreier arms are recorded
The Schreier arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Schreier Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Schreier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Schreier Family in Austria
The surname Schreier originates from the Middle High German word "schreier," which translates to one who shouts or cries out. In the context of medieval and early modern Austria, this name was often a descriptive nickname given to someone with a loud voice, a town crier, or perhaps a person who worked in a noisy trade. By the time records place the family in the Tyrol region in 1772, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. Living in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, these early family members were likely integrated into the rural agricultural or artisan communities that defined the region during the eighteenth century. As residents of the Habsburg lands, they would have been subject to the administrative reforms and census efforts of the era, which helped solidify the use of fixed family names across the Austrian territories. This transition from a simple descriptive nickname to a formal family name reflects the broader social evolution of the Alpine population as they moved toward more structured record-keeping and community organization.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
schreien
To cry out, shout, or scream in the German language.
This name
SchreierAn occupational surname for a town crier, a loud person, or a noisy individual.
also spelled
Schrayer
Schreier
Shryer
Schrier
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
knightChivalry and service in arms
