The Noble House of Krusenstern
The Noble House of Krusenstern consists of two related family branches.
One of the family branches originates from Germany (Saxony-Anhalt).
The ancestor is considered to be Pastor Johannes Krause (d. 1558), whose grandson Philipp Crusius served in the Swedish "Britannia Reval" from 1644, was deputy judge of the Reval Castle Tribunal, and later Governor of Reval.
Philipp Crusius was elevated to nobility with the name von Kruus in 1649, but the name had to be changed to von Krusenstern and von Krusenstjerna.
This family branch is divided into two lines:
The Main Branch (Estonian)
The main branch in a direct line (Estonian), introduced into the Estonian House of Nobility in 1746. This branch lived in part of Russia until 1918 and partly in Estonia until 1939.
One of the most important ancestors of this lineage is Adam Johan Von Krusenstern, whose direct descendants live in Poland, in Kraków.
Part of this family emigrated to Sweden in 1929 and regained the right to be represented in the Swedish House of Nobility in 1945. Descendants of this family live mainly in Sweden, the USA and Australia.
The Swedish Branch (Blekinge)
Another branch of the family originates from the Swedish province of Blekinge and was named Grameen before being elevated to nobility. Nils Grameen married Miss Johanna Maria von Krusenstierna.
Since his mother's maiden name was von Krusenstierna, the two sons were allowed to "adopt" the name von Krusenstierna.
This family branch consists of several subgroups:
- 1st – Lieutenant Colonel, later Rear Admiral Mauritz Peter Grameen was elevated to nobility with the adopted name von Krusenstjerna in 1801 and was introduced into the House of Nobility in 1803.
- 2nd – Major Fredrik Vilhelm Grameen was elevated to nobility with the adopted name von Krusenstjerna in 1805 and was introduced into the House of Nobility in 1806.
Coat of Arms
There are generally 3 main types of the family coat of arms.
The original is described as follows:
On a blue shield with a red bent arm holding a yellow bow, and above the shoulders a golden star. Above the shield an open helmet. The mantle alternating yellow, blue and red. On the front of the helmet a Persian turban and above the turban a vertical red arrow.
- First Coat of Arms – comes from the Swedish Nobility Calendar 2004.
- Second Coat of Arms – is a reproduction of the coat of arms hanging in the great hall of the House of Nobility in Stockholm. This coat of arms, painted on a copper shield, dates from when Philipp Crusius was ennobled. It is used as the official coat of arms of the Swedish lineage.
- Third Coat of Arms – is in fact more widespread than the others. This coat of arms is used as the official coat of arms of the Estonian lineage and as the family insignia across the entire family.
- Fourth Coat of Arms – belongs to the lineage of Adam Johan Von Krusenstern. It is the same as the official coat of arms of the Estonian line, but updated with several details related to his circumnavigation.