A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Killinger family of Germany.
Reg. 5682 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au chev. d'arg.; au 2 d'azur à un senestrochère, arm. au nat., la main de carn. tenant une épée; au 3 d'azur à un dextrochère pareil. Cq. cour. C.: le bras, iss. de la couronne, entre un vol, d'azur et d'arg. (ou de gu.) L. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBade · Bavaria, c. 1737
Where the Killinger Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Killinger arms are recorded
The Killinger arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1737.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Killinger 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Killinger Family in Germany
The surname Killinger is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in this area, with documented records confirming their presence there by 1737. The name itself is thought to be topographical or locational in origin, likely derived from the Middle High German term for a dweller near a specific stream or a small valley. During this era, families often took names based on the geography of their home, suggesting that the early Killingers were farmers or tradespeople who lived near a distinct local landmark. As the 1700s progressed, members of the family became part of the steady movement of people across the Holy Roman Empire, eventually contributing to the cultural and social fabric of the Bavarian countryside before many later generations sought new opportunities abroad.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kühling
Derived from the Germanic personal name Kuno meaning bold or brave.
This name
KillingerA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Kuno or a dweller at a specific location.
also spelled
Kyllinger
Kilinger
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
