A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dicke family of Germany.
Reg. 3832 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à trois los. de gu.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Dicke Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Dicke arms are recorded
The Dicke 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 Germany when the Dicke 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 Dicke Family in Germany
The family name Dicke originates from the Low German language and carries a descriptive meaning. In its earliest form, the word was used as a nickname to describe someone who was stout or thickset in physical stature. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the Westphalia region of Germany. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Dicke family were living in this area, likely working as farmers or tradespeople within their local village communities. During this period, the name became a permanent identifier passed down through generations as families settled into specific parishes. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant agricultural transition in Westphalia, where their daily lives were shaped by the rhythms of the rural landscape and the strict social structures of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dick
Middle High German term meaning thick, stout, or dense.
This name
DickeA descriptive nickname for a person of heavy or stout physical build.
also spelled
Dike
Dika
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Westfalen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
