A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eike family of Germany.
Reg. 2324 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à une poule d'eau cont., tenant en son bec un poisson en pal et posée dans une eau au milieu de roseaux, le tout au nat. C.: les meubles de l'écu. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Eike Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Eike arms are recorded
The Eike arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Eike 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Eike Family in Germany
The family name Eike has deep roots in the Germanic regions of Central Europe, with a documented presence in the province of Silesia by 1765. The name is believed to originate from the Middle Low German word eke, which refers to an oak tree. In early societies, people were often given names based on the natural landmarks near their homes or their physical surroundings. Families living near a prominent oak tree or in a forest area were frequently identified by this term. As surnames became permanent during the late medieval period, the name evolved from a simple descriptor into a formal family identifier. By the time the family appeared in Silesian records during the mid-eighteenth century, the name was already well-established as a hereditary surname passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Egi
Old High German term referring to the edge of a sword.
This name
EikeDerived from a short form of names containing the element edge or sword.
also spelled
Eick
Eike
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
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
branchPeace, and new growth
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
branchPeace, and new growth
