A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elkan family of Austria.
Reg. 0484 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev., accosté en chef à dextre d'un caducée et à sen. d'une ancre senestrée d'une étoile, le tout d'arg.; le chev. acc. en p. d'une grue avec sa vigilance au nat., posée sur un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: la grue sur le tertre, entre un vol coupé alt. d'arg. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1825
Where the Elkan Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Elkan arms are recorded
The Elkan arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1825.
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.
Region
Bavaria
First recorded
1825
Granting Authority for the Elkan Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1804–1835
Reigning in Austria when the Elkan 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Elkan Family in Austria
The surname Elkan is a patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the given name of a male ancestor. It stems from the Hebrew name Elkanah, which translates to God has created or God has purchased. By the early nineteenth century, the name was well established among Jewish communities in the region of Bavaria. In 1825, families bearing this name were living within the German states, often navigating the strict naming laws that required Jewish citizens to adopt permanent hereditary surnames. These families were frequently involved in trade and local commerce, contributing to the economic life of Bavarian towns during a period of significant social transition. As the family moved through the nineteenth century, the name remained a clear link to their ancestral roots and their integration into the broader German-speaking world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elkanah
Hebrew for God has created or God has purchased.
This name
ElkanA diminutive form of the Hebrew name meaning God has created.
also spelled
Elkan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Matrikeln der jüdischen Einwohner in Bayern, 1813–1861
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
