A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eik family of Germany.
Reg. 1940 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 quatre fasces d'azur.”
GermanyCologne, c. 1765
Where the Eik Arms Were Recorded
Cologne
Map of Germany showing where the Eik arms are recorded
The Eik arms were recorded in Cologne, 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 Eik 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 Eik Family in Germany
The family name Eik is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Lower Rhine region, where it likely originated as a topographic surname. In the German language, the word Eik is a regional variant for the oak tree, suggesting that the earliest ancestors to adopt this name may have lived near a prominent landmark or a forest. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the city of Cologne, which was a major hub for trade and craftsmanship at the time. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Eik family were active participants in the urban life of Cologne, likely working within the city’s complex guild system or as independent merchants. This period was one of significant social change in the Rhineland, and the family’s ability to maintain a documented presence in such a bustling center reflects their integration into the local community during the late Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eiche
A large deciduous tree belonging to the genus Quercus.
This name
EikRefers to someone who lived near a prominent oak tree or forest.
also spelled
Eicke
Eik
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Breuer, Dieter, Geschichte der Stadt Köln: Die Zeit der Aufklärung, 1996
Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln, Personenstandsregister der Stadt Köln, 1765
Kluge, Friedrich, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 2012
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
