A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Keister family of France.
Reg. 1126 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
fascesAuthority joined to unity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or au chev. d'azur, acc. de trois étoiles du même; au 2 de gu. à une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; au 3 de gu. à un faisceau des licteurs d'arg., la hache tournée à sen.; au 4 d'or au lion d'azur, tenant un drapeau du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1808
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Map of France showing where the Keister arms are recorded
The Keister arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1808.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Keister 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Keister Family in France
The family name Keister is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is widely considered an occupational or descriptive surname that evolved from the Middle High German word *kiste*, which refers to a chest or a box. Historically, this suggests that an early ancestor may have been a skilled craftsman who built wooden chests or perhaps a merchant who transported goods in such containers. By 1808, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Lorraine region. This area, located on the border between modern-day France and Germany, was a cultural crossroads where families often navigated shifting national boundaries and linguistic influences. The presence of the family in this territory during the early nineteenth century reflects the movement of skilled laborers and farmers who sought stability in the heart of Europe during a period of significant political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kiste
A wooden box, chest, or container used for storage.
This name
KeisterAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of wooden chests or boxes.
also spelled
Kyster
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
Archives départementales de la Moselle, État civil de la commune de Lorraine, 1808
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
fascesAuthority joined to unity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
fascesAuthority joined to unity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
