A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kessinger family of Germany.
Reg. 1378 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de sin. à un cerf naiss. d'arg., mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'arg. à deux chicots au nat., passés en saut. L'écu bordé d'or. C.: une ramure de cerf d'arg. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kessinger arms are recorded
The Kessinger arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Kessinger 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Kessinger Family in Germany
The Kessinger family name finds its roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in the Electorate of Saxony by 1765. The name is generally classified as an occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "kessel," which refers to a kettle or a cauldron. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name were likely skilled metalworkers or coppersmiths who crafted essential household vessels. As these craftsmen moved through the German states, the name evolved to identify families associated with this trade. By the mid-18th century, the Kessingers were well-established members of the Saxon community, participating in the local agricultural and artisanal life that defined the region during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kessing
A patronymic derived from the personal name Kesso or Kess.
This name
KessingerA habitational or patronymic surname indicating someone from Kessingen or a descendant of Kesso.
also spelled
Kessengere
Kessingerre
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
branchPeace, and new growth
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
branchPeace, and new growth
