A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beckendorf family of Germany.
Reg. 8666 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
foxWit and wisdom in defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un renard, au nat., acc. de trois étoiles de .... (abîme.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Beckendorf Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Beckendorf arms are recorded
The Beckendorf 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 Beckendorf 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 Beckendorf Family in Germany
The surname Beckendorf is a topographical name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts, with "beck" often referring to a stream or a small brook, and "dorf" meaning a village or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely people who lived in or near a village situated by a stream. By the year 1765, historical records confirm that the Beckendorf family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, families often took their names from the specific landscape features of their homes, which helped neighbors identify them within their local communities. As the family grew, they became part of the agricultural and social fabric of the Bavarian countryside, contributing to the local economy and village life for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beckendorf
A village or settlement located near a stream or brook.
This name
BeckendorfRefers to a person originating from a settlement situated by a small river.
also spelled
Bekendorf
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
foxWit and wisdom in defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
foxWit and wisdom in defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
