Map of Germany showing where the Class arms are recorded
The Class arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, 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 Class 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 Class Family in Germany
The family name Class traces its roots to the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a shortened form of the name Nicolaus. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in Ratisbonne, which is known today as Regensburg. In 1765, records indicate that members of the Class family were active participants in the social and economic life of this historic city. Ratisbonne served as a major center for trade and politics along the Danube River during this era. Living in such a prominent location suggests that the family was likely involved in the merchant guilds or the skilled craft trades that defined the city. These early ancestors helped shape the local community through their daily work and their contributions to the urban environment of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nicolaus
Victory of the people derived from Greek words for victory and people.
This name
ClassA German patronymic surname originating as a shortened form of the given name Nicholas.
also spelled
Klauss
Claus
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Regensburger Stadtarchiv Akten
Bauer, Hermann, Geschichte der Stadt Regensburg, 1883
Heigl, Peter, Regensburg: Eine Stadt im Wandel der Zeit, 1995
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bullValour and generosity
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bullValour and generosity
