Map of Switzerland showing where the Kihm arms are recorded
The Kihm arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Kihm Family in Switzerland
The family name Kihm has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with a documented presence in the city of Bern by 1745. During the eighteenth century, families with this surname were often associated with the skilled trades and agricultural life that defined the Swiss cantons. The name itself likely evolved as a regional variation of older Germanic given names or occupational descriptors, reflecting the way surnames were solidified as populations grew and moved through the Alpine valleys. By the mid-1700s, members of the Kihm family were integrated into the local civic life of Bern, where they participated in the social and economic structures of the era. Their history is tied to the broader migration patterns of the time, as families sought stability and opportunity within the complex political landscape of the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Joachim
God has established or lifted up
This name
KihmA shortened Alemannic pet form derived from the biblical name Joachim.
also spelled
Kym
Kimm
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2002
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
