Map of Germany showing where the Kleyman arms are recorded
The Kleyman arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Kleyman 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 Kleyman Family in Germany
The surname Kleyman, often spelled Kleemann or Kleiman in its original German form, is rooted in the occupational traditions of the Bavarian region. During the mid-eighteenth century, the name was typically associated with individuals who worked as merchants or specialized craftsmen. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within the social and economic fabric of Bavaria. At that time, the name functioned as a descriptor of a person’s role in the community, often identifying those who managed trade goods or worked with clay and earth materials. As the family grew, they became part of the local administrative life of the region, contributing to the agricultural and mercantile development that defined the Bavarian landscape during the late Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kleimann
A person who works with clay or a potter.
This name
KleymanAn occupational surname for a clay worker or someone living near a clay pit.
also spelled
Kleman
Cleman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchführung
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
