A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoehn family of Germany.
Reg. 0701 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de gu. à trois bandes d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à un griffon d'or, celui du 3 cont. Cq. cour. C.: un griffon iss. d'or, cour. du même. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Hoehn arms are recorded
The Hoehn arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Hoehn 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 Hoehn Family in Germany
The surname Hoehn is a German occupational or descriptive name that originated in the southern regions of the Holy Roman Empire. It is derived from the Middle High German word *hoh*, which translates to high or tall, and was likely used as a nickname for a person of significant stature or someone who lived on a prominent hill. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the rural landscapes of Bavaria. During this period, the Hoehn family members were typically integrated into the local agrarian society, often working as independent farmers or skilled tradespeople within their village communities. As the population grew, these families maintained strong ties to their local parishes, where their births, marriages, and deaths were carefully documented in church registers. This tradition of record-keeping in Bavaria provides a clear window into the lives of these early ancestors as they navigated the social and economic changes of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hohn
A Middle High German term referring to mockery, scorn, or derision.
This name
HoehnA nickname for a person who was prone to mocking others or a sarcastic individual.
also spelled
Honne
Hon
Hone
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
