A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kötler family of Germany.
Reg. 5509 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. à une bêche d'or, enfoncée dans une terrasse de sin., le manche en haut terminé également en fer de bêche, duquel deux tiges d'or s'étendent à dextre et à sen. C.: les meubles de l'écu, entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyRothenburg Bav, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kötler arms are recorded
The Kötler arms were recorded in Rothenburg Bav, c. 1765.
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 Kötler 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 Kötler Family in Germany
The family name Kötler traces its roots to the medieval German term *Kötter*, which referred to a small-scale farmer or a cottager who lived on a modest plot of land. These individuals typically held a small house and a garden, often working as laborers for larger estates to supplement their income. By the time the family was firmly established in the historic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1765, the name had evolved to reflect this specific social and economic status within the local community. Living in a walled city like Rothenburg suggests that early Kötler ancestors were likely integrated into the urban trades or craft guilds that defined the region during the eighteenth century. This transition from rural landholders to city dwellers highlights the family's adaptability as they navigated the changing economic landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kote
A small hut, cottage, or shed.
This name
KötlerAn occupational surname for a cottager or a small-scale tenant farmer.
also spelled
Koetler
Ketler
Cotler
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
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
