A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kolbe family of Germany.
Reg. 9263 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
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)
“Coupé-enclavé: au 1 d'azur à deux massues au nat., passées en saut., le gros bout en haut: au 2 d'or plein. C.: un avant-bras, en pal, paré d'azur, la main de carn. brandissant une massue au nat.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kolbe arms are recorded
The Kolbe arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats 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 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 Kolbe 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Kolbe Family in Germany
The surname Kolbe has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically within the historic territory of Franconia. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well-established in this area, which served as a central hub for trade and agriculture in the Holy Roman Empire. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "kolbe," which referred to a club, a mace, or even a specific type of plant with a rounded head. In many cases, such names began as nicknames for individuals who possessed a sturdy build or perhaps worked with heavy tools. As the family grew in Franconia during the 1760s, they likely integrated into the local village structures, contributing to the development of the region through farming, craftsmanship, or trade. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change, as the rural landscapes of central Germany began to see shifts in population and economic activity that would eventually shape the modern identity of the family.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kolb
A medieval German term for a club or mace.
This name
KolbeA nickname for a person who carried a club or had a stout, club-like build.
also spelled
Colbe
Kolby
Colby
Related arms
Neumannsimilar arms
Reusnersimilar arms
Risenfeltsimilar arms
Tunemansimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Standesamtliche Unterlagen und Kirchenbücher der Region Franken
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
