A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eck family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0486 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un dextrochère, arm. d'arg., mouv. du flanc, la main de carn. empoignant une pique d'arg., posée en pal. Cq. cour. C.: le bras, posé en pal, tenant la pique en fasce, la pointe à sen.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Eck Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Eck arms are recorded
The Eck arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Eck 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 Eck Family in Germany
The name Eck is a classic example of a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. In the German language, the word *Eck* translates to a corner, an edge, or a sharp bend in a road or river. Families who took this name often lived near a prominent corner of a village, a sharp bend in a local stream, or the edge of a forest. By the time the family was firmly established in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had already been in use for centuries across various German-speaking regions. Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship during the eighteenth century, making it a likely destination for families seeking economic stability. Because the name is based on a common geographical feature, it emerged independently in many different towns rather than originating from a single ancestor. This allowed the name to spread throughout Germany as people moved between urban centers to practice their trades.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
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 six triangles de gu., 3, 2 et 1. C.: un triangle de gu., sommé d'une étoile d'or; entre deux prob. d'arg.”
GroningenZutphen · Groningen, c. 1815
Where the Eck Arms Were Recorded
Groningen
Map of Netherlands showing where the Eck arms are recorded
The Eck arms were recorded in Groningen, c. 1815.
Groningen was northern Dutch country of reclaimed land and free farmers. Families who held their own ground counted as gentry there, and gentry carried 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.
Region
Groningen
Town
Zutphen
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Eck Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Eck arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Groningen.
Origin & History of the Eck Family in Netherlands
The family name Eck is rooted in the landscape of the Netherlands, where it often functioned as a topographic surname for people living near a corner or a sharp bend in a river. By the early nineteenth century, the name was well-established in the northern province of Groningen. Historical records from 1815 show that members of the family were active participants in the local community during a time when the Netherlands was transitioning into a centralized kingdom. During this period, the government required citizens to formalize their surnames for civil registration, which helped solidify the family identity in regional archives. These early ancestors were likely part of the agrarian or merchant classes that defined the economy of the northern provinces. Their presence in Groningen reflects the broader movement of families who settled in the fertile plains near the Wadden Sea, where they contributed to the local culture and development of the region for generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
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'or à une grande losange évasée de gu., touchant les bords de l'écu. C.: la losange, entre deux cornes de buffle d'or.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Eck Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Eck arms are recorded
The Eck 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 Eck Family in Switzerland
The family name Eck has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it originally functioned as a topographical surname. In the Middle Ages, the name was typically given to people who lived near a sharp corner, a street angle, or a wedge-shaped piece of land. By the time the family established a documented presence in Bern in 1745, they were part of a society that placed great importance on civic registration and local trade. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state where families often settled into specific roles within the urban economy. The members of the Eck family in mid-eighteenth-century Switzerland would have lived through a time of relative stability, contributing to the growth of the city through their work and community involvement. Their presence in the official records of Bern suggests that they were integrated into the social fabric of the region, carrying a name that reflected their ancestors' connection to the physical landscape of their original home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ecke
A corner, edge, or sharp angle of land.
This name
EckA topographic name for someone who lived near a corner or a sharp bend.
also spelled
Ek
Related arms
Erlinger d'Eggensteinsimilar arms
Backerrecorded with Eck, same area
Beukerrecorded with Eck, same area
de Basrecorded with Eck, same area
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
