A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ekstein family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 9984 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à un griffon de sa., cour. d'or, lamp. de gu., celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un cygne d'arg., le vol ouvert, posé sur une pierre carrée d'arg., mouv. de la p., le cygne du 3 cont. Sur le tout d'or une tête de More, tort. d'arg. L'écu encadré d'un dragon de sin., em-poignant l'écu au flanc dextre, tenant sa queue entre ses dents. Cq. cour. C.: la tête de More, entre un vol à l'antique coupé, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
NetherlandsRotterdam, c. 1815
Where the Ekstein Arms Were Recorded
Rotterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Ekstein arms are recorded
The Ekstein arms were recorded in Rotterdam, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Rotterdam
Town
Rotterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Ekstein Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ekstein arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Ekstein Family in Netherlands
The history of the Ekstein family in the Netherlands is rooted in the urban growth of the nineteenth century, particularly within the bustling port city of Rotterdam. By 1815, the name appeared in official records during a period when the Dutch government began requiring citizens to register permanent surnames for census and tax purposes. The name itself is of Germanic origin, likely derived from a combination of words meaning oak and stone, which suggests that the family’s ancestors may have originally lived near a prominent landmark or a specific geographic feature. As residents of Rotterdam, early members of the family were part of a city that was rapidly transforming into a global center for trade and maritime commerce. This environment provided many opportunities for families to establish themselves in professional roles, moving from traditional crafts into the expanding merchant class that defined the Dutch economy during the post-Napoleonic era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à trois los. d'arg. C.: un vol d'azur, chaque aile ch. d'une los. d'arg.”
GermanyGiessen, c. 1765
Where the Ekstein Arms Were Recorded
Giessen
Map of Germany showing where the Ekstein arms are recorded
The Ekstein arms were recorded in Giessen, 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 Netherlands when the Ekstein 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 Ekstein Family in Germany
The surname Ekstein is rooted in the German language, where it is derived from the words for oak and stone. This combination likely served as a topographic identifier for families who lived near a prominent landmark, such as a large oak tree growing near a rocky outcrop or a stone boundary marker. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was firmly established in the Hessian town of Giessen. Records confirm that members of the family were living there by 1765, a time when the region was part of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt. During this era, families in Giessen were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds or the university, which had been founded in the early 1600s. As the family grew within this academic and mercantile environment, the name Ekstein became a permanent part of the social fabric of the city, reflecting a history tied to both the natural landscape of central Germany and the evolving urban life of the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. au lion d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois cubes de gu., vus de travers, rangés en pal. Cq. cour. C.: un vol coupé, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Ekstein Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Ekstein arms are recorded
The Ekstein arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Ekstein Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ekstein arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Ekstein Family in Austria
The surname Ekstein traces its roots to the mountainous landscapes of the Austrian Tyrol, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1772. The name itself is derived from the German words "Eck," meaning corner or edge, and "Stein," meaning stone, which likely described a family living near a prominent rock formation or a boundary marker in the rugged alpine terrain. During the late 18th century, families in this region were often identified by their proximity to specific natural landmarks or their roles within small mountain communities. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Tyrol, navigating the complex administrative changes of the Habsburg Empire. By settling in this region, the early members of the Ekstein family helped define the local identity of their villages, leaving a trail of records that document their presence in the heart of the Austrian Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eckstein
Germanic term for a corner stone or boundary marker.
This name
EksteinRefers to a person living near a corner stone or a landmark.
also spelled
Ecksteen
Ekstein
Eckstine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
