A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Linner family of Germany.
Reg. 5990 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une tête et col de licorne d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une rose de gu. C.: une licorne iss., entre deux prob. coupées d'arg. sur gu. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Linner arms are recorded
The Linner 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 Linner 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 Linner Family in Germany
The surname Linner is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Franconia, a region in southern Germany where records confirm the family’s presence as early as 1765. The name is generally classified as a topographical or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "linde," which refers to the linden tree. In many cases, families adopted this name because they lived near a prominent linden tree or managed land where these trees were a defining feature of the local geography. During the eighteenth century, the Linner family members in Franconia were typically integrated into the agrarian society of the Holy Roman Empire. They lived through a period of significant social change as the region transitioned from feudal land management toward more modern agricultural practices. By maintaining a consistent presence in local parish registers and tax documents, these early ancestors helped establish a lasting legacy for the name within the Bavarian and Franconian cultural identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Linde
A type of deciduous tree known as the linden or lime tree.
This name
LinnerA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent linden tree.
also spelled
Loner
Lehner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 2006
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1933
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
