A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Koff family of Germany.
Reg. 3579 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au lion d'or, tenant entre ses pattes un buste d'homme sculpté d'arg., posé de face; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une roue d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le lion du 1, iss.; entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur gu., à sen. d'azur sur or, chaque aile ch. d'une roue d'or, br. sur le coupé. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Koff arms are recorded
The Koff arms were recorded in Germany, 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 Koff 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 Koff Family in Germany
The family name Koff finds its historical roots in the southern regions of Germany, specifically within the state of Bavaria. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a presence in this area, as evidenced by records dating back to 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname based on the local dialect spoken in the rural communities of the Bavarian countryside. During this period, families often lived in small agricultural villages where they were closely tied to the seasonal rhythms of farming and local trade. As the eighteenth century progressed, the Koff family became part of the broader social fabric of the region, contributing to the development of their local parishes and community life. Their early history reflects the typical movement and settlement patterns of families living in the Holy Roman Empire during a time of significant cultural and economic change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kopf
A German noun referring to the head or top part.
This name
KoffA topographic or nickname surname originally denoting someone living at a hilltop or having a distinctive head.
also spelled
Koepff
Koepf
Kepff
Kopf
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
