Map of Germany showing where the Korn arms are recorded
The Korn 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 Korn 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 Korn Family in Germany
The surname Korn is a classic German occupational name that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. In the German language, the word *Korn* refers to grain or cereal crops, suggesting that the original bearers of the name were likely farmers, millers, or merchants involved in the essential grain trade. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Franconia region of Germany. During this period, the economy of Franconia was heavily centered on agriculture, and families like the Korn line played a vital role in the local community by managing the harvest and distribution of vital food supplies. These early ancestors were part of a stable social structure where surnames often identified a person by their daily labor, effectively linking the identity of the family to the fertile lands of the German countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti, ch. sur sa poitrine d'un croiss. d'arg.; au 2 d'arg. à un homme, hab. de gu., rebr. d'arg., au plastron du même, chaussé de souliers à bec de sa., coiffé d'un chapeau du même, tenant de sa main dextre trois épis d'or. C.: l'homme du 2, iss., entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
PolandPosnanie, c. 1866
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Poland showing where the Korn arms are recorded
The Korn arms were recorded in Posnanie, c. 1866.
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.
Region
Posnanie
Town
Posnanie
First recorded
1866
Granting Authority for the Korn Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poland.
Origin & History of the Korn Family in Poland
The surname Korn has deep roots in the region of Posnania, a historical area in west-central Poland that served as a cultural and agricultural hub for centuries. By the mid-19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the area, particularly around 1866. The name itself is derived from the German and Polish word for grain, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely worked as farmers, millers, or grain merchants. In the social structure of 19th-century Posnania, such a name often identified a family’s connection to the fertile soil of the region and the essential trade of providing food for growing local communities. As the family lived through a time of significant political change in Poland, their presence in the region reflects the resilience of families who maintained their livelihoods and traditions despite shifting borders and evolving social systems.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Korn
Middle High German word for grain or cereal crops.
This name
KornAn occupational name for a farmer, grain merchant, or someone who paid taxes in grain.
also spelled
Korne
Related arms
Schifferhuebersimilar arms
Schuzwerthsimilar arms
Coornvariant spelling
Baumannrecorded with Korn, same area
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien im Hochstift Bamberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
knightChivalry and service in arms
