A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beke family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7346 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 une rivière en fasce d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, entre deux pl. d'aut., d'arg. et d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'or, à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Beke Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Beke arms are recorded
The Beke 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 Beke 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 Beke Family in Germany
The family name Beke has deep roots in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the area, living as part of the local agricultural and artisan communities. The name itself is often linked to the Middle High German word "beke," which translates to a small stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely earned the name by living near a specific water source or a prominent landmark in their village. As these families grew and moved throughout the Bavarian countryside, they contributed to the local economy and social structure of their time. Their presence in 1765 reflects a period of stability where families were deeply connected to the land and the specific geography of their home towns.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a cross moline ar”
DurhamDurham, c. 1620
Where the Beke Arms Were Recorded
Durham
Map of England showing where the Beke arms are recorded
The Beke arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1620.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Germany when the Beke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Durham.
Origin & History of the Beke Family in England
The surname Beke has roots that stretch back into the medieval period, though the family established a notable presence in the northern English county of Durham by the early seventeenth century. Records indicate that members of the Beke family were settled in this region by 1620, living in a landscape defined by the powerful influence of the Prince-Bishops of Durham. During this era, families with this name often lived as tenant farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the North East. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier, reflecting the way people were identified in small village communities before modern census records existed. By the time the family appears in Durham parish registers in the 1600s, they were part of a stable population that navigated the social and religious shifts of Stuart England. Their presence in the north suggests a deep connection to the local land and the specific historical development of County Durham during a time of significant transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and brave or hardy.
This name
BekeA diminutive or short form of names beginning with the element bern meaning bear.
also spelled
Beeke
Beka
Bek
Beck
Beek
Related arms
Marshallsimilar arms
Beckvariant spelling
Adynrecorded with Beke, same area
Audynrecorded with Beke, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchführung
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
