A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kuehne family of Germany.
Reg. 0649 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur sa., le sa. ch. d'une boule du premier émail, sommée de cinq plumes de paon au nat., br. sur le gu. C.: deux tulipes de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin., posées entre un vol coupé alt. de sa. et de gu. L.: de sa. et de gu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kuehne arms are recorded
The Kuehne arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Kuehne 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 Kuehne Family in Germany
The family name Kuehne originates from the Middle High German word kühn, which translates to bold or daring. During the medieval period, such names often began as nicknames used to describe a person’s personality or physical traits before they became permanent family surnames. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Kuehne family was well-established in the city of Nuremberg. At that time, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and skilled craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in the city during the 1760s were often part of a structured urban society where records of births, marriages, and occupations were carefully maintained by local churches and municipal offices. These early ancestors likely contributed to the vibrant economic life of the region as the name spread through the German-speaking lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kühn
bold, brave, or daring in character
This name
Kuehnea descriptive nickname for a courageous or audacious individual
also spelled
Kuehne
Kehne
Kune
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
