A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Deken family of Germany.
Reg. 9217 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
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'arg. à une crémaillère de sa. C.: un tronc d'arbre, poussant deux feuilles, au nat. T.: deux hommes d'armes, celui à dextre arm. d'arg. et tenant la crémaillère, celui à sen. arm. de sa. et tenant le tronc d'arbre. D.: PRO ARIS ET FOCIS.”
MecklenburgHan · Mecklenburg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Deken arms are recorded
The Deken arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1765.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Deken 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Deken Family in Germany
The surname Deken is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern Germany, particularly within the region of Mecklenburg. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established as part of the local social fabric. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Middle Low German word deken, which historically referred to a deacon or a church official. In the rural society of 1765 Mecklenburg, families often identified themselves through their professional roles or their connection to the parish. As members of this community, the Deken family likely lived as farmers or skilled laborers who contributed to the stability of their village. Their presence in official records from this era suggests they were settled members of the population who participated in the traditional life of the region.
Deken Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
diaconus
A servant or minister in a religious context.
This name
DekenAn occupational surname for a deacon or a person who served in a church.
also spelled
Deckenn
Deckene
Deken
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin, Kirchenbücher der mecklenburgischen Gemeinden (Parish records of Mecklenburg)
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