A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Katzenellenbogen family of France.
Reg. 9577 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au léopard lionné de gu., arm., lamp. et cour. d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'un bes. aux armes de l'écu, le lion de l'aile dextre cont.”
Francec. 1479
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Map of France showing where the Katzenellenbogen arms are recorded
The Katzenellenbogen arms were recorded in France, c. 1479.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XI of France
1461–1483
Reigning in France when the Katzenellenbogen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Katzenellenbogen Family in France
The name Katzenellenbogen originates from a small town in the Rhineland region of Germany. The name itself is a compound word that combines the German terms for cat and elbow, likely referring to the sharp, winding shape of the local landscape or a specific bend in a nearby river. While the family is deeply rooted in German history, members of the lineage began to migrate across Europe during the late Middle Ages. By 1479, records confirm that individuals bearing this name had established a presence in the Brittany region of France. This early movement suggests that the family was involved in the complex networks of trade, diplomacy, or scholarly exchange that connected different parts of the continent during the fifteenth century. As they moved into new territories, they carried their distinct name with them, marking their transition from a localized German family to a group with broader European connections.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cattzenelnbogen
German place name referring to a cat's elbow or bend.
This name
KatzenellenbogenDerived from a town in Germany, historically associated with a prominent Jewish family from the region.
also spelled
Katzenelnboggen
Katzenelnbog
Katsenelnbogen
Katzen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Struck, Wolf-Heino, Die Grafschaft Katzenellenbogen und die untere Grafschaft Katzenellenbogen, 1979
Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Bestand 130: Grafschaft Katzenellenbogen
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
