Duhn Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duhn family of Germany.

Reg. 7148 · German, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Duhn Arms Were Recorded

Lubeck
Map of Germany showing where the Duhn arms are recorded

The Duhn arms were recorded in Lubeck, 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.

Region
Lubeck
Town
Lubeck
First recorded
1765

Granting Authority for the Duhn Arms

Arms of Imperial grant of arms
Imperial grant of arms Ipankonin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Authority

Imperial grant of arms

962-1806

The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.

Portrait of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

1745–1765

Reigning in Germany when the Duhn 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 Duhn Family in Germany

The family name Duhn has deep roots in the northern regions of Germany, particularly within the historic city of Lübeck. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was already well-established in this bustling port city, which served as a major hub for trade and culture along the Baltic Sea. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Duhn family were active participants in the local community during this era. The name itself likely originated from a descriptive term or a geographic reference common to the Low German dialect spoken in the region. As Lübeck was a center for merchants and skilled craftspeople, the family likely played a role in the economic life of the city as it navigated the complex political shifts of the time. Over the following generations, the family continued to contribute to the social fabric of northern Germany, maintaining a presence in the area for many years.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Dune

A sand hill or ridge formed by the wind.

This name
DuhnA topographic name for someone who lived near a sandy hill or dune.
also spelled
Duhne
Duhnn
Duh
Doon

Documented Sources

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Archiv der Hansestadt Lübeck, Bürgerbücher der Hansestadt Lübeck

Archiv der Hansestadt Lübeck, Kirchenbücher der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche

Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1972

Graff, Paul, Geschichte der Stadt Lübeck, 1939

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