A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finck family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5902 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
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)
“De gu. à trois pinsons d'or. C.: une tête et col de pinson d'or.”
GermanyLubeck, c. 1765
Where the Finck Arms Were Recorded
Lubeck
Map of Germany showing where the Finck arms are recorded
The Finck arms were recorded in Lubeck, 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 Germany when the Finck 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 Finck Family in Germany
The surname Finck originates from the Middle High German word *vinke*, which translates to finch. In medieval Germany, names were often derived from nicknames based on physical traits, personality, or local wildlife, and the finch was a common bird associated with liveliness or a cheerful nature. By the time members of the family were documented in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck in 1765, the name had already been established for centuries across various German-speaking regions. Lübeck was a major center for trade and commerce during this era, and families living there were often integrated into the city’s merchant guilds or artisan circles. The presence of the Finck name in such a prominent port city suggests that these ancestors were likely part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the economic and social landscape of Northern Germany during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé d'azur sur gu.; à la fasce d'arg., br. sur le coupé et ch. d'un chardonneret au nat. Brl. d'azur, d'arg. et de gu. C.: le chardonneret; entre deux prob. tiercées en fasce d'azur, d'arg. et de gu., ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois plumes de paon au nat. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1563
Where the Finck Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Finck arms are recorded
The Finck arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1563.
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
1563
Granting Authority for the Finck Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
1556–1564
Reigning in Germany when the Finck 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 Finck Family in Austria
The surname Finck has deep roots in the Alpine regions of Austria, with historical documentation confirming the presence of the family in Tyrol as early as 1563. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals living in mountainous areas where surnames were beginning to solidify as a way to identify specific households. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German word for a finch, which suggests that early ancestors may have been given the name as a nickname based on their personality or their physical appearance. As the family established itself in the Tyrol region, they became part of the local social fabric, likely working in trades or agriculture common to the rugged landscape of the Austrian Alps. Over the following centuries, the family expanded throughout the region, maintaining their connection to the land while their name evolved alongside the changing administrative records of the Austrian Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fink
A small songbird belonging to the finch family.
This name
FinckA nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or a bird-like appearance.
also spelled
Fynck
Fincke
Fink
Related arms
Finksimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Archiv der Hansestadt Lübeck, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Lübeck
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
