A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bohn family of Germany.
Reg. 5205 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une étoile d'or; au 2 d'arg. au lion d'or; au 3 d'arg. à l'ancre de sa. A la croix d'or, br. sur les écartelures. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'azur. L.: d'arg. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1835
Where the Bohn Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bohn arms are recorded
The Bohn arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1835.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Bohn arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Bohn Family in Germany
The surname Bohn has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly within the southern state of Bavaria. Historically, the name is classified as a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "bone," which refers to a bean. In the medieval period, this name was often given to individuals who cultivated beans or lived near a notable field where they were grown. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1835, the name had been established for generations as a common identifier for families living in rural agricultural communities. These early Bohn families were typically part of the industrious working class, contributing to the local economy through farming and trade in the fertile lands of southern Germany. Their presence in 1835 reflects a long history of stability in the region, where the family name served as a link to both their ancestral land and their traditional way of life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bohne
A leguminous plant or seed of the bean family.
This name
BohnA topographic name for someone living near a bean field or a nickname for a bean farmer.
also spelled
Bohne
Bohnn
Bon
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher und Standesregister, 1835
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
