A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elking family of Germany.
Reg. 0370 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'azur à deux flèches d'arg., passées en saut., liées d'un ruban du même et acc. en chef d'une étoile d'or (Eelking); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la fasce de gu. (von Line). Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° deux bras arm., les mains empoignant une flèche en pal (Eelking); 1. d'arg. et d'azur; 2° un vol d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce de gu. (von Line); 1. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyBrème, c. 1881
Where the Elking Arms Were Recorded
Brème
Map of Germany showing where the Elking arms are recorded
The Elking arms were recorded in Brème, c. 1881.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Elking arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Elking Family in Germany
The surname Elking is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern Germany, particularly within the region surrounding the city of Bremen. By the late 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established residents of the area. The name likely originated as a topographic or patronymic descriptor, common for families living near specific landmarks or descending from a common ancestor whose name shared a similar linguistic root. As Bremen served as a major center for trade and migration during the 1880s, the Elking family was part of a dynamic social environment that saw many people moving between rural villages and the growing urban port. These early members of the family were likely involved in the local industries that defined the city, helping to build the community foundations that allowed the name to persist through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elke
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Adalheidis meaning noble kind.
This name
ElkingA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Elke or noble kin.
also spelled
Elking
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Bremen, Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Bremen (1881)
Bremisches Jahrbuch, Statistisches Jahrbuch der Freien Hansestadt Bremen (1882)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
