A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finke family of Denmark.
Reg. 2004 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un tronc d'arbre au nat., posé sur une terrasse de sin. et poussant à dextre une branche sur laquelle est perché un pinson au nat. C.: le pinson, entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'or et de gu.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Finke Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Finke arms are recorded
The Finke arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Finke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Finke Family in Denmark
The surname Finke has deep roots in Northern Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive name often linked to the German word for a finch. By the early 18th century, members of the Finke family were well-established in the region of Sjælland, Denmark. Records from 1722 confirm their presence in this area, suggesting that the family had integrated into the local community as farmers, tradespeople, or laborers during a time of significant social change in rural Denmark. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this period, the name likely traveled with individuals moving across the Baltic region for work or trade. These early ancestors lived through a time when the Danish monarchy was centralizing control over land and population, meaning the Finke family likely appeared in parish registers and tax rolls as they contributed to the local economy of Sjælland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Finn
A name derived from the Old Norse word for a person from Finland.
This name
FinkeA diminutive form indicating a descendant or a person associated with the Finn people.
also spelled
Fincke
Fynke
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Knudsen, Anders. Danske Efternavne: Deres oprindelse og udbredelse. 1998
Søndergaard, Bent. Danske familienavne gennem 500 år. 1982
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish Registers for the Diocese of Sjælland)
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Folketællinger og skattelister (Census and tax records)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
