A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beka family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7591 · Polish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'azur à la bande de gu., ch. de trois bes. d'arg., celui du milieu ch. d'un lion de sa. et les deux autres ch. chacun d'une couronne d'or. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
PolandThorn, c. 1772
Where the Beka Arms Were Recorded
Thorn
Map of Poland showing where the Beka arms are recorded
The Beka arms were recorded in Thorn, c. 1772.
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.
Region
Thorn
Town
Thorn
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Beka Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Beka arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poland.
Origin & History of the Beka Family in Poland
The family name Beka appears in the historical records of Thorn, which is known today as Toruń, Poland, during the late eighteenth century. By 1772, members of the Beka family were already established residents in this significant trade hub along the Vistula River. At that time, Thorn was a city defined by its complex position between the Kingdom of Poland and the expanding influence of the Prussian state. Families living in the city during this period often navigated a blend of German and Polish cultural influences due to the city's long history as a center for merchants and artisans. The presence of the Beka name in these early municipal documents suggests that the family was part of the urban middle class that kept the city functioning through trade and craftsmanship. Because Thorn served as a vital gateway for goods moving toward the Baltic Sea, the Beka family likely benefited from the steady flow of commerce that defined life in the region during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'or à trois fasces ondées d'azur, celle en p. supp. un cygne nageant d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, entre un vol d'arg.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Beka Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Beka arms are recorded
The Beka arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Poland when the Beka 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Beka Family in Germany
The family name Beka traces its roots to the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. During the eighteenth century, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and a growing network of local trade. Families like the Bekas often lived in rural villages where their surname likely evolved from a local geographic feature or a descriptive nickname used to distinguish them from neighbors. Life in this region was centered around the parish church, which served as the primary record keeper for births, marriages, and deaths. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Prussian administrative system, which began to formalize record-keeping practices across the German states. By remaining in this area for generations, the family contributed to the agricultural and social development of the Westphalian countryside during a period of significant regional change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bek
A Turkic or Slavic term referring to a leader or official.
This name
BekaA surname likely derived from an occupational title or a nickname for a person of authority.
also spelled
Bekke
Beka
Beck
Bec
Bek
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Państwowe w Toruniu, Akta miasta Torunia (1772)
Biskup, Marian, Historia Torunia. Tom II, część I: W czasach nowożytnych (1548–1793), 1994
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
