A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kerner family of Germany.
Reg. 3153 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Tranché: au 1 d'or plein; au 2 fascé d'arg. et de gu. de quatre pièces. Au lion de sa., br. sur tout l'écu. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss., tenant un navet blanc, feuillé de sin. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1813
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 Kerner arms are recorded
The Kerner arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1813.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Kerner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Kerner Family in Germany
The surname Kerner is an occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word *kern*, which refers to a grain or a kernel. Historically, a Kerner was a person who worked as a grain merchant or a harvester who specialized in collecting and processing seeds. By the early 19th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Württemberg. During this period, the name was common among rural communities where agriculture served as the primary way of life. The family members living in Württemberg in 1813 were part of a long tradition of tradespeople who helped sustain the local economy through their expertise in farming and grain distribution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kern
A German term referring to a grain, seed, or kernel.
This name
KernerAn occupational surname for a farmer, grain merchant, or someone who harvested or processed grain.
also spelled
Kernner
Kerrner
Kernerr
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg, 1813
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
