Map of Denmark showing where the Kofoed arms are recorded
The Kofoed arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1514.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Christian II of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Christian II of Denmark
1513–1523
Reigning in Denmark when the Kofoed arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Kofoed Family in Denmark
The Kofoed family name has deep roots in the history of Denmark, with the earliest documented evidence placing family members on the island of Sjælland by 1514. The name itself is believed to be an occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle Low German word "kofod," which translates to a cow’s foot. In medieval times, such names were often given to people based on their trade, their physical traits, or even as a nickname related to their livestock. As the family grew, they became well-established within the Danish social structure, eventually spreading from their early base on Sjælland to other regions, including the island of Bornholm. Throughout these early centuries, the family played a consistent role in local community life and administration, helping to shape the cultural landscape of the Danish islands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kofod
A person from the island of Bornholm or a local inhabitant.
This name
KofoedA Danish surname derived from the Old Danish term for a resident of Bornholm.
also spelled
Kofoed
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kofoed, Peter, Slægten Kofoed fra Bornholm, 1988
Rigsarkivet, Danske Kancelli, Sjællandske Registre, 1514
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
