Map of Germany showing where the Kohl arms are recorded
The Kohl 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 Kohl 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 Kohl Family in Germany
The surname Kohl is a classic example of a German occupational or descriptive name that emerged during the Middle Ages. In the German language, the word *Kohl* refers to cabbage, and it was often used as a nickname for a farmer who grew vegetables or someone who sold them in the local markets. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already been established for centuries as a common identifier for families living in rural agricultural communities. These early ancestors likely lived in small villages where their livelihood was tied directly to the land and the seasonal harvest. Because the name was linked to such a common crop, it appeared independently in various regions across Germany as families moved and traded goods. This history reflects the transition of German society from a system where people were known only by their first names to a more organized structure where surnames became necessary to distinguish between neighbors in growing towns and provinces.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
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 d'azur à un homme iss., posé de front, hab. d'or, tenant de sa main dextre un charbon allumé de gu.; aux 2 et 3 échiq. d'or et d'azur. C.: l'homme du 1; entre un vol, d'or et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Swedenc. 1461
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Map of Sweden showing where the Kohl arms are recorded
The Kohl arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1461.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Christian I of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Christian I of Denmark
1457–1464
Reigning in Germany when the Kohl arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Kohl Family in Sweden
The history of the Kohl family in Sweden begins in the heart of Stockholm during the fifteenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents of the capital city by 1461. During this era, Stockholm was a bustling center of trade and politics under the influence of the Hanseatic League. Families with names like Kohl often held positions of influence within the growing urban merchant class. They likely participated in the vibrant exchange of goods and ideas that defined the city as a gateway between the Baltic region and the rest of Europe. Over the following generations, the family integrated into the social fabric of Sweden, moving from their early roots in the capital to become a recognized part of the nation’s historical narrative.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kohl
Middle High German word for cabbage or kale.
This name
KohlAn occupational name for a grower or seller of cabbage.
also spelled
Koll
Cole
Related arms
Kolvariant spelling
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
