A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eckhart family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6561 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
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 un ours ramp., tenant de ses pattes un tronc d'arbre au nat.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1515
Where the Eckhart Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Eckhart arms are recorded
The Eckhart arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1515.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Maximilian I
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian I
1486–1519
Reigning in Germany when the Eckhart 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Eckhart Family in Germany
The family name Eckhart traces its roots to the Old High German language, where it was formed by combining the words for edge or corner with the word for brave or hardy. This suggests that the name originally described a person who was known for their sharp mind or their bold spirit. By the early sixteenth century, records confirm that members of the Eckhart family were well established in the region of Saxony. During this period, Saxony was a center of significant cultural and religious change, which likely influenced the lives of those living there. Families like the Eckharts often lived in rural communities or growing market towns, where they contributed to the local economy through farming or skilled craftsmanship. Over time, the name spread across German-speaking lands as families moved to find new opportunities, yet it remained deeply connected to its linguistic origins in the heart of central Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
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 grand besant d'arg., ch. d'une demi-ramure de cerf courbée de sa. C.: la demi-ramure, chacune des cinq dagues ornée de trois feuilles de peuplier de sin.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Eckhart Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Eckhart arms are recorded
The Eckhart 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 Eckhart Family in Switzerland
The family name Eckhart carries deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with a significant presence in the Swiss canton of Bern by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from the Old High German words for edge or corner and hardy or brave, suggesting that early ancestors were likely known for their strength or their role as guardians of a specific territory. By 1745, records confirm that members of the Eckhart family were established residents of Bern, a city that served as a powerful hub for trade and politics in the Swiss Confederation. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local agricultural or craft-based economies that defined Swiss life. These early settlers helped shape the social fabric of the region by participating in the communal governance and religious traditions that were central to Bernese identity. Their presence in the city during this time reflects a broader history of families moving through the Alpine landscape to find stability and opportunity in growing urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eckhart
Derived from the Germanic elements eck meaning edge and hard meaning brave.
This name
EckhartA name signifying a person who is strong, brave, or hardy at the edge.
also spelled
Eckhard
Eckhardt
Related arms
Eckhardvariant spelling
Eckhardtvariant spelling
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Bestand 10001 (Ältere Urkunden), 1515
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
