Map of Germany showing where the Kohnle arms are recorded
The Kohnle arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Kohnle 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Kohnle Family in Germany
The family name Kohnle is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the area, living as part of the traditional agrarian and craft-based society of the time. The name itself is considered a diminutive form of the name Konrad, which was a very popular choice in Germanic regions during the Middle Ages. Over several generations, the suffix was added to the base name as a way to distinguish younger family members or to signify a term of endearment within the local dialect. As these families grew, they became integrated into the local parish systems, where their births, marriages, and deaths were carefully documented by church officials. This transition from a simple given name to a permanent hereditary surname reflects the broader social changes occurring in 18th-century Bavaria as record-keeping became more standardized for tax and census purposes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Konrad
Derived from the Germanic elements for bold and counsel.
This name
KohnleA diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone named Konrad.
also spelled
Kuhn
Kunle
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fusilTravail and industry
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fusilTravail and industry
lionCourage, strength and royalty
