A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Knopf family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1531 · Swiss, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'un parti d'azur et d'or, sur arg.; à trois coeurs de gu., appointés par les pieds en pairle, br. en coeur de l'écu sur les divisions. C.: une tête et col de lévrier d'arg., entre un vol à l'antique, l'aile de derrière de gu., celle de devant coupée de gu. sur arg., aux trois coeurs de l'un en l'autre. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Knopf arms are recorded
The Knopf arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Knopf Family in Switzerland
The surname Knopf traces its roots back to the German word for button, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely worked as skilled artisans or tailors. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, Switzerland. During this period, Bâle served as a bustling center for trade and craftsmanship, providing a stable environment for families to grow and integrate into the local urban economy. As members of the Knopf family settled into the region, they became part of the intricate social fabric of the city, likely contributing to the flourishing guilds and merchant networks that defined Swiss life in 1745. Their transition into this Swiss city reflects the broader movement of families across Europe who sought to establish their trades and build lasting legacies in prosperous urban hubs.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à un homme iss., mouv. du coupé, hab. d'azur, retr. de gu.; au 2 d'or à quatre pals de gu. A la fasce de gu., br. sur le coupé. C.: l'homme iss.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Knopf arms are recorded
The Knopf 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Switzerland when the Knopf 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 Knopf Family in Germany
The surname Knopf originated as a descriptive occupational name in the German-speaking regions of Europe. In Middle High German, the word *knopf* referred to a button, a knob, or a rounded protrusion. It is likely that the first people to carry this name were skilled craftsmen who manufactured buttons or worked as metalworkers producing rounded fasteners for clothing. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. During this era, Nuremberg served as a major hub for trade and specialized manufacturing, which provided a stable environment for families to build their livelihoods. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Knopf family were active participants in the social and economic life of this bustling city. Their presence in such a prominent urban center suggests that they were integrated into the professional guilds that defined the German middle class during the late eighteenth century.
Knopf Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Knopf
Middle High German term for a button or a rounded knob.
This name
KnopfAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of buttons.
also spelled
Knop
Related arms
Cnopfvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Handwerk und Zunftwesen in der Schweiz, 2008
Schweizerisches Idiotikon, Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
knightChivalry and service in arms
