A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Höhn family of Germany.
Reg. 1368 · 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 Höhn arms are recorded
The Höhn 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 Höhn 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 Höhn Family in Germany
The surname Höhn is rooted in the linguistic landscape of southern Germany, specifically within the Bavarian region. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "hoh," which translates to high or tall. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a prominent hill, a mountain peak, or a piece of elevated land. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing the name Höhn were well-established members of the Bavarian community. These individuals were typically part of the agrarian society that defined the region in 1765, often working as farmers or craftsmen who identified themselves by the distinct geography of their homes. Over generations, what began as a simple descriptive nickname for a person living on high ground evolved into a permanent family name passed down through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hohn
A Middle High German term referring to mockery, scorn, or derision.
This name
HöhnLikely a nickname for a mocking person or someone who frequently engaged in ridicule.
also spelled
Honne
Hon
Hone
Related arms
Honvariant spelling
Honevariant spelling
Hoonvariant spelling
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
