A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biden family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 3251 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à la tête de l'aigle de Prusse; au 2 de gu. à trois épis d'or, tigés et feuillés de sin., rangés sur un tertre du même; au 3 d'azur à un messager au nat., tenant un bâton, pass. sur une terrasse de sin. soutenue d'un rocher d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. à un membre d'aigle de sa., la patte d'or. L'écu bordé d'or. C.: une étoile (8) d'or, entre un vol de l'aigle de Prusse. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1739
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Map of Germany showing where the Biden arms are recorded
The Biden arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1739.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Biden 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 Biden Family in Germany
The family name Biden traces its roots back to the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1739. In the German language, names often evolved from descriptions of a person’s location, occupation, or a specific nickname. The name is believed to be a variation of the Middle High German term *biden*, which relates to the act of waiting or abiding. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agricultural work or local trades. As the family lived in the rural landscapes of southern Germany, they were part of a society that was deeply influenced by local traditions and the shifting borders of the Holy Roman Empire. Over several generations, the family name became a permanent marker of their identity as they navigated the social and economic changes occurring within the Bavarian territories.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à un trèfle de sin., accosté de deux étoiles (5) d'or; au 2 d'azur à trois losanges de gu. taillées à quatre facettes, rangées en fasce et touchant les bords.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Biden arms are recorded
The Biden arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Biden Family in Switzerland
The history of the Biden family name in Switzerland is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Canton of Bern during the eighteenth century. By 1745, records confirm that members of the family were established residents within this region, which was then a powerful city-state known for its strict administrative record-keeping. Families like the Bidens often played roles in the local agricultural or trade-based economy that defined life in the Swiss plateau. During this era, the name was likely associated with the German-speaking population of the area, where surnames were frequently tied to specific geographic locations or local occupations. As the family navigated the social structures of Bern, they contributed to the steady growth of the region’s middle class. Their presence in the city archives reflects the broader history of Swiss families who maintained detailed documentation of their births, marriages, and property ownership to ensure their status within the community.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vairProtection, and the winter fur
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
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)
“Quarterly gu. and vair, in the first quarter a lion pass. ar”
LancasterWorsley · Lancaster, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Biden arms are recorded
The Biden arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Biden 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Biden Family in England
The family name Biden traces its roots back to the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in this region, which was then a landscape defined by small market towns and rural farming communities. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older English occupational or locational surnames that evolved as families moved between parishes. During the early 17th century, life in Lancashire was shaped by the transition from medieval traditions to the early modern era, and families like the Bidens were part of the local social fabric that relied on agriculture and local trade. As the family grew, they became part of the broader history of Northern England, eventually seeing members migrate across the Atlantic to seek new opportunities in the American colonies.
Biden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Beide
German word meaning both or two.
This name
BidenA topographic name for someone living between two distinct locations or landmarks.
also spelled
Boddin
Bodenh
Bodenn
Bodin
Bodyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
legStrength and swiftness
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
legStrength and swiftness
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
