Map of Germany showing where the Weinrauch arms are recorded
The Weinrauch 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 Weinrauch 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 Weinrauch Family in Germany
The surname Weinrauch is a German occupational name that translates literally to "frankincense." During the Middle Ages, names were often chosen to reflect a person’s trade, and this name likely identified a merchant or a dealer who sold incense, spices, or medicinal resins. By the time members of the family were documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the city had long been a major hub for international trade and craftsmanship. Families living in Nuremberg during the eighteenth century were often part of a highly organized urban society where records of births, marriages, and guild memberships were carefully maintained. As the family established itself in this bustling center of commerce, they likely benefited from the city’s reputation for innovation and its strong connections to trade routes across Europe. The transition of the name from a simple description of a merchant’s goods into a formal family identifier reflects the broader trend of how surnames became permanent fixtures of identity in German-speaking regions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Weihrauch
A resinous substance used as incense in religious ceremonies.
This name
WeinrauchAn occupational name for a merchant or producer of incense.
also spelled
Weinrick
Wainrich
Wynrik
Winrich
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
