A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hacke family of Germany.
Reg. 7067 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une licorne d'arg.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Hacke Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Hacke arms are recorded
The Hacke arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 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 Hacke 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Hacke Family in Germany
The family name Hacke originates from the German language and is rooted in the medieval period. It is classified as a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle Low German word "hacke," which refers to a hoe or a similar agricultural tool. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely farmers or laborers who worked the land in the northern regions of Germany. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that the family had established a firm presence in the Westphalia region. In 1765, members of the Hacke family were active participants in the local community life of this area, contributing to the agricultural and social development of their rural surroundings. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who settled in the fertile plains of Westphalia to build lives centered around trade and cultivation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hake
A Middle Low German term referring to a hook or hoe.
This name
HackeAn occupational name for a farmer or a person who used a hook-shaped tool.
also spelled
Hackee
Related arms
Hackvariant spelling
Hakevariant spelling
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1954
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister, 1765
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unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
