A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kleist family of Germany.
Reg. 0264 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
foxWit and wisdom in defence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., acc. de deux renards courants du même, 1 en chef et 1 en p. C.: trois piques d'arg., emm. au nat., les pointes en bas, soutenues chacune d'une rose de gu.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kleist arms are recorded
The Kleist arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Kleist 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Kleist Family in Germany
The Kleist family name has deep roots in the historical region of Pomerania, where members of the family were well-established by the middle of the eighteenth century. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle Low German word for a small or compact person. As the family grew in influence, they became prominent members of the landed gentry and served in various administrative and military roles throughout the Prussian state. Their presence in Pomerania was marked by the ownership of several estates, which allowed them to play a significant part in the local social and political life of the region for many generations. By the year 1765, the family was already recognized as a traditional noble house with a long history of service to the crown and a strong connection to the rural landscape of northern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kleist
Derived from the Middle Low German word for a small, round object.
This name
KleistA topographic or descriptive nickname for a person of small or stout stature.
also spelled
Klyst
Kleyst
Klist
Related arms
Bulgrinsimilar arms
Meseritzsimilar arms
Wödtkesimilar arms
Engelmannrecorded with Kleist, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kneschke, Ernst Heinrich, Neues allgemeines deutsches Adels-Lexicon, 1863
Ledebur, Leopold von, Adelslexicon der preussischen Monarchie, 1855
Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, I. HA Rep. 176, Heroldsamt
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
foxWit and wisdom in defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
foxWit and wisdom in defence
