A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kain family of Germany.
Reg. 7283 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 sa. au lion d'or; aux 2 et 3 parti de gu. et d'arg., à une fleur-de-lis de l'un en l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: un vol; l'aile dextre coupée d'arg. sur gu., à une fleur-de-lis de l'un en l'autre; l'aile sen. coupée d'or sur sa., à une fleur-de-lis de l'un en l'autre. 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 Kain arms are recorded
The Kain 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 Kain 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 Kain Family in Germany
The family name Kain has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name is often categorized as a topographic or habitational surname, which means it likely described the specific environment where the original family lived or worked. In the German language, the root of the name is frequently associated with the term for a small wedge or a narrow piece of land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who identified themselves by the unique shape or location of their property. Over generations, this descriptive label transitioned from a simple way to identify a neighbor into a formal family name that was passed down through the centuries. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-integrated into the local Bavarian community, contributing to the agricultural and social fabric of the region during a time of significant transition in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cain
Derived from the Hebrew word meaning acquired or possessed.
This name
KainA topographic name for someone living near a small stream or a variant of the biblical name.
also spelled
Kainn
Kaine
Kainh
Kane
Related arms
Kaynvariant 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
