A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kortman family of Germany.
Reg. 6886 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au lion naiss. de gu., cour. d'or, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; au 2 de sin. à l'orle d'arg. C.: un bras arm., brandissant une épée, le tout au nat. L.: d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1769
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 Germany showing where the Kortman arms are recorded
The Kortman arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1769.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Kortman 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 Kortman Family in Germany
The surname Kortman is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Germanic regions, where it likely functioned as a descriptive name for an individual based on their physical stature or their social standing. The prefix "kort" is derived from the Middle Low German word for short, while the suffix "man" identifies the bearer as a person or worker. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region. During this era, life in Bavaria was defined by agrarian cycles and the influence of local parish administration. Families like the Kortmans were typically integrated into the village structure, often working as skilled laborers or farmers who contributed to the local economy. Their presence in the 1769 records suggests a stable lineage that was deeply connected to the social and religious life of their specific Bavarian community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kort
A Low German variant of the name Conrad meaning bold counsel.
This name
KortmanAn occupational surname for a man who worked as a gardener or lived near a garden.
also spelled
Kortman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
