A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eichen family of Germany.
Reg. 0842 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
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 fasces de gu. C.: une étoile d'or, entre un vol d'or et d'arg.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Eichen Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Eichen arms are recorded
The Eichen arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Eichen 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 Eichen Family in Germany
The surname Eichen is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "eiche," which means oak tree. Families who took this name often lived near a prominent oak tree or a forest filled with oak timber. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Eichen family were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, Bavaria was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and many families with this name were likely involved in agriculture or forestry. Because the oak tree was a common and respected symbol in Germanic culture, the name reflects a deep connection to the local landscape and the natural environment of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eiche
A large deciduous tree belonging to the genus Quercus.
This name
EichenDerived from a topographic name for someone who lived near an oak tree or forest.
also spelled
Eichen
Heumar
Eychen
Eiken dit Hoemar
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
