A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kmetz family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé d'azur sur or; à une sirène au nat., sans bras, br. sur le coupé. C.: deux cornes de buffle, coupées d'azur sur or.”
The Kmetz arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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.
Reigning in Germany when the Kmetz arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Kmetz is rooted in the Slavic term "kmet," which historically referred to a free peasant or a tenant farmer who worked the land. By the mid-18th century, families carrying this name had established a presence in the bustling city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a significant center for trade and skilled craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. It is likely that the Kmetz family moved to this urban hub to seek new opportunities in the city's thriving guilds or merchant networks. As they settled into the local community, they transitioned from their rural origins into the structured life of an 18th-century German city. This shift reflects the broader movement of people across Central Europe who were looking to improve their social standing through trade and professional work in growing metropolitan areas.
A Slavic term for a free peasant or tenant farmer.
