A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kempen family of Germany.
Reg. 0049 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de gu. à un griffon cont. d'arg., la queue passée entre ses jambes; au 2 d'azur à un griffon d'or, la queue relevée. C.: un griffon iss. d'or, tenant un marteau au nat. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Kempen arms are recorded
The Kempen 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 Kempen 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 Kempen Family in Germany
The family name Kempen is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name is closely linked to the town of Kempen in the Lower Rhine region of Germany, where families often adopted the name of their home village as they moved to new areas. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had established themselves in Ratisbonne, which is the French name for the city of Regensburg. In 1765, records show that the family was active within this historic Bavarian city, which served as a major political and commercial hub during the Holy Roman Empire. This migration reflects a broader trend of families moving across German-speaking lands to pursue new economic opportunities in growing urban centers. Over time, the name became a permanent identifier for these individuals as they integrated into the social and civic life of their new communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
campus
Latin term for an open field, plain, or level ground.
This name
KempenRefers to someone who lived on or worked in a field or open plain.
also spelled
Kempen
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
Stadtarchiv Regensburg, Bürgeraufnahmebücher der Stadt Regensburg, 1765
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
