A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Falken family of Germany.
Reg. 0346 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: a. d'arg. à un griffon de gu.; b. de gu. à un griffon d'arg. A une fleur-de-lis de sa., br. sur le coupé C.: un faucon de gu., entre deux cornes de buffle, de gu. et d'arg.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
Where the Falken Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Falken arms are recorded
The Falken arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Falken 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Falken Family in Germany
The surname Falken originates from the Germanic word for falcon, a bird of prey that was highly valued for hunting in medieval Europe. Families who adopted this name often lived in regions where falconry was a common practice or where these birds were frequently spotted in the wild. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that the Falken family had established a significant presence in the region of Pomerania. In 1765, members of the family were documented as residents in this coastal area, which was then part of the Kingdom of Prussia. Living in Pomerania during this time meant the family likely participated in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined the Baltic landscape. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and tax documents that help historians map their movement across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
falko
A Germanic word referring to the bird of prey known as falcon.
This name
FalkenA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived at a house marked by a falcon sign.
also spelled
Falcken
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Behr, Hans-Joachim. Geschichte von Pommern. 2004
Heitz, Gerhard. Die Entwicklung der gutsherrlich-bäuerlichen Verhältnisse in Pommern von 1765 bis 1818. 1954
Landesarchiv Greifswald, Kirchenbücher der Provinz Pommern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
