Map of Germany showing where the Johnsson arms are recorded
The Johnsson 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 Johnsson 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 Johnsson Family in Germany
The name Johnsson is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of a man named John. While the name is often associated with Scandinavian regions, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the Bavarian region of Germany by 1765. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were often tied to specific trades or agricultural land, and their surnames helped local officials keep track of tax records and parish registrations. As these families moved through the German states, the spelling of the name sometimes shifted to match local dialects or the preferences of local record keepers. This transition from a simple description of parentage to a permanent family name reflects the broader social changes occurring in Central Europe during the late 1700s, as governments began to require more formal identification for all citizens.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Yochanan
Hebrew for God is gracious
This name
JohnssonPatronymic surname meaning son of John
also spelled
Johnsen
Johnsson
Jonson
Jonsone
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
