A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Keiler family of Germany.
Reg. 8158 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 d'arg. à une grappe de raisins au nat., pamprée de sin., posée en bande, la queue en haut; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une branche feuillée de cinq pièces de sin., posée en bande, le pied en haut. Cq. cour. C.: un palmier de sin. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de sin.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Keiler arms are recorded
The Keiler 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 Keiler 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 Keiler Family in Germany
The surname Keiler originated in the southern German regions, with deep roots in the cultural landscape of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in this area, as evidenced by records dating back to 1765. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German word *keiler*, which translates to a male wild boar. In medieval society, names were often descriptive, and this term was likely used as a nickname for a person known for their strength, courage, or perhaps a specific skill in hunting. Because Bavaria was heavily forested and rural during this era, such names were common among families who lived close to the land. Over generations, the name transitioned from a simple descriptor into a permanent family identifier, marking the Keiler lineage as a part of the traditional social fabric of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Keiler
German word for a male wild boar.
This name
KeilerAn occupational surname for a hunter or a nickname for a fierce person.
also spelled
Keller
Kelar
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
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
branchPeace, and new growth
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
branchPeace, and new growth
