Map of Germany showing where the Kastner arms are recorded
The Kastner arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Kastner 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 Kastner Family in Germany
The surname Kastner is an occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word *kestener*, which referred to a person who managed a *kasten*, or a large chest used to store grain, taxes, or official records. By the time members of the family were documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had long been associated with individuals who held positions of trust as stewards, treasurers, or granary keepers for local lords or religious institutions. Because these roles required literacy and organizational skills, the Kastner family likely held a stable position within the middle class of the city. As the family grew, they integrated into the urban fabric of Nuremberg, which was a major center for trade and craftsmanship during the eighteenth century. This history reflects the transition of the name from a specific job title to a hereditary family identifier that moved through generations of city dwellers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kasten
A box, chest, or container used for storage.
This name
KastnerAn occupational surname for a box maker, cabinetmaker, or a keeper of a chest or treasury.
Related arms
Castnervariant spelling
Kaestnervariant 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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg. Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg. 1765
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
