Map of Germany showing where the Kneller arms are recorded
The Kneller arms were recorded in Kirchberg, 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 Kneller 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 Kneller Family in Germany
The surname Kneller has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical evidence placing members of the family in the Bavarian region by the year 1765. The name is generally classified as an occupational surname, which means it likely originated from a word describing a person’s trade or daily work. In Middle High German, the term *knellen* referred to the act of ringing a bell or making a sharp, clicking sound. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry this name may have been bell-ringers, metalworkers, or perhaps individuals known for a specific rhythmic craft. As families moved through the rural landscapes of Bavaria during the eighteenth century, the name became a permanent marker of their identity and professional heritage. By settling in this region, the Kneller family became part of the long tradition of craftsmen who helped shape the local economy and social structure of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
knellen
To ring, toll, or sound a bell.
This name
KnellerAn occupational name for a bell ringer or a sexton.
also spelled
Kneler
Neller
Related arms
Brenningersimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
