A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kerber family of Germany.
Reg. 6120 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
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)
“De sa. à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'un corbeau pass. de sa., tenant en son bec un annelet d'or; au chef de pourpre, ch. d'une couronne royale d'or. C.: un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce d'arg. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
GermanyPrusse occidentale, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kerber arms are recorded
The Kerber arms were recorded in Prusse occidentale, 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 Kerber 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 Kerber Family in Germany
The surname Kerber is rooted in the historical regions of southern Germany, with documented evidence placing the family in Bavaria by the year 1765. The name is occupational in origin, derived from the Middle High German word "kerber," which referred to a basket maker. During the eighteenth century, individuals carrying this name were often integrated into the rural economy of the Bavarian countryside, where skilled craftsmanship was essential for daily agricultural life. As families moved between villages and towns, the name became a permanent identifier for those who specialized in weaving wicker or wood into functional containers. This connection to a specific trade helped the family establish a clear identity within their local communities, marking them as essential contributors to the regional markets of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Körber
A maker of baskets or containers made from wicker or wood.
This name
KerberAn occupational surname for a basket maker or a merchant who sold woven containers.
also spelled
Koerbere
Koerberr
Koerberh
Korber
Kerber
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
