Map of England showing where the Knerr arms are recorded
The Knerr arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Knerr arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Knerr Family in England
The surname Knerr is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a rugged or sturdy physical build. The name is derived from the Middle High German word *knorre*, which refers to a knot in wood or a protruding lump. By the early 17th century, members of the Knerr family were established in the region of York, Germany. During this era, families often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where their names became tied to their specific trades or personal characteristics. As these individuals moved through the landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, they carried this name as a mark of their family identity. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and tax records, documenting the family's transition from local laborers to established members of the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cnarre
Middle English term for a knot, lump, or rugged projection.
This name
KnerrA topographical name for someone who lived near a rocky outcrop or a knotty tree.
also spelled
Kynar
Kinner
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1600–1650
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
