A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hecht family of Germany.
Reg. 9068 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 taillé: a. d'azur à deux fasces d'or, acc. de trois los. du même, 2 en chef et 1 entre les deux fasces; b. d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 tranché: a. de gu. à deux fasces d'arg., acc. de trois los. du même, 2 en chef et 1 entre les deux fasces; b. d'arg. au lion cont. de gu. A une couronne d'or, br. sur le parti, au point du chef. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une aigle iss. et cont. de sa., cour. d'or; l. d'or et d'azur; 2° un lion iss. de gu., cour. d'or, tenant entre ses pattes deux los. aboutées et rangées en pal, la première d'or, la sec. d'arg.; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1762
Where the Hecht Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Hecht arms are recorded
The Hecht arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1762.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in 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 Hecht 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 Hecht Family in Germany
The surname Hecht originates from the Middle High German word for the pike fish. In medieval times, names were often chosen to describe a person’s physical traits, personality, or occupation. A person might have been given this name because they were quick and agile like a fish, or perhaps because they worked as a fisherman. By the time the family was firmly established in the Bavarian region in 1762, the name had become a permanent identifier passed down through generations. During this period, Bavaria was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and families like the Hechts were often deeply connected to the local agricultural or trade communities. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change, as the region transitioned from feudal traditions toward the more structured record-keeping systems that defined the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hecht
Middle High German word for the predatory freshwater fish.
This name
HechtA nickname for a person perceived to be quick, sharp, or voracious like a pike.
also spelled
Hekt
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
