Map of Germany showing where the Krost arms are recorded
The Krost arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Krost 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 Krost Family in Germany
The family name Krost traces its roots to the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1765. During this period, the name was likely linked to the local agricultural landscape or specific geographical features of the Bavarian countryside. Many surnames from this era evolved from nicknames or descriptions of a person's trade, and Krost may have originated from Middle High German terms related to small plots of land or specific types of vegetation. As the family established itself in the region, they became part of the long history of Bavarian village life, where families often remained in the same area for generations to work the land and participate in local community affairs. This deep connection to the Bavarian soil helped the family maintain its identity as they navigated the social and economic changes of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Krost
Derived from the Middle High German word for a crust or scab.
This name
KrostA topographic or descriptive nickname likely referring to someone with a rough appearance or skin condition.
also spelled
Krost
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87