A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kleynhans family of Germany.
Reg. 6583 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec. d'arg. et d'azur; à un soleil d'or, br. sur les écartelures. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyKempten Bav, c. 1765
Where the Kleynhans Arms Were Recorded
Kempten
Map of Germany showing where the Kleynhans arms are recorded
The Kleynhans 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 Kleynhans 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 Kleynhans Family in Germany
The surname Kleynhans is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for a person of small stature or a younger member of a family. The prefix "Klein" translates to small, while "Hans" is a common diminutive form of the name Johannes. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were established in the town of Kempten, located in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. During this period, the family was integrated into the local community, likely participating in the trades or agricultural life common to that part of Germany. As the family grew, individuals began to migrate, eventually carrying the name across borders and into new regions where it evolved alongside the local dialects and customs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Klein Hans
Small or little John
This name
KleynhansA diminutive reference to a person named John, often distinguishing a son from his father.
also spelled
Kleinhantz
Kleynhans
Clinehans
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Kempten, Bürgerrechtsverzeichnisse der Stadt Kempten (1700–1800)
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.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
