Map of Germany showing where the Kasper arms are recorded
The Kasper arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, 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.
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 Kasper 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 Kasper Family in Germany
The name Kasper is a variant of the name Jasper, which has roots in ancient Persian and means treasurer or keeper of the treasure. Throughout history, the name became popular across Europe due to the legend of the Three Wise Men, where one of the figures was traditionally named Caspar. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Kasper family had established a notable presence in Ratisbonne, which is the historical German city now known as Regensburg. During this era, families in the region were often deeply integrated into the local trade guilds or religious institutions that defined city life. Living in a major hub like Ratisbonne suggests that early members of the family were likely involved in the bustling commerce or administrative work that characterized this important center along the Danube River. The transition of the name into its current spelling reflects the linguistic shifts common in Central Europe as families moved and recorded their identities in local parish and municipal registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaspar
A Persian term meaning treasurer or keeper of the treasure.
This name
KasperA German variant of a name traditionally associated with one of the biblical Magi.
also spelled
Kaesspair
Kaspair
Kasper
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Regensburger Domkapitel: Akten und Protokolle, 1765
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
