Map of Germany showing where the Kleinhans arms are recorded
The Kleinhans arms were recorded in Kempten Bav, c. 1765.
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 Kleinhans 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 Kleinhans Family in Germany
The surname Kleinhans is a descriptive name that originated in German-speaking regions, combining the words "klein," meaning small or little, and "Hans," which is a common nickname for Johannes or John. Historically, this name was often used to distinguish between two people in a community who shared the same first name, specifically identifying the younger or smaller man as "Little John." By 1765, records confirm that members of the Kleinhans family were well-established in the city of Kempten, located in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. During this era, families in Kempten were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds and the agricultural life of the Alpine foothills. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the town, contributing to the local economy and community life through their various crafts and daily labor.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Klein and Hans
Small and a diminutive form of the name Johannes meaning God is gracious.
This name
KleinhansRefers to a small man named Hans or the younger of two men named Hans.
also spelled
Kleinhantz
Kleynhans
Clinehans
Related arms
Kleynhensvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Kempten, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei St. Mang (Parish registers of St. Mang)
Staatsarchiv Augsburg, Bayerische Steuerlisten des 18. Jahrhunderts (Bavarian tax records of the 18th century)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
