A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eker family of Germany.
Reg. 5155 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Tranché: au 1 de sa. à un griffon d'or, tenant entre ses pattes un tourteau d'azur, ch. d'un croiss. cont. d'or, ayant entre ses cornes une étoile du même; au 2 bandé d'arg. et de gu., de quatre pièces. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon, iss.; entre deux prob. de sa. et de gu., ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois pl. d'aut., à dextre une de sa. entre deux d'or, à sen. une de gu. entre deux d'arg. L. conformes aux émaux des pl. d'aut.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Eker Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Eker arms are recorded
The Eker 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 Eker 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 Eker Family in Germany
The family name Eker has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "ecker," which refers to the fruit of the oak tree, known as an acorn. During the eighteenth century, many families in rural Bavaria adopted surnames based on the natural features of their surroundings or the specific crops they harvested from the forest. Because oak forests were a vital part of the Bavarian landscape, the name Eker suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or foresters who lived near these prominent trees. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the agricultural traditions and village life that defined the region during the late Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Acker
A field or piece of cultivated agricultural land.
This name
EkerAn occupational surname for a farmer or someone who worked on a field.
also spelled
Egcker
Egcher
Eker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
