A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heckel family of Germany.
Reg. 8976 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis mal-ordonnées d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un senestrochère, arm. au nat., tenant une hache du même. Cq. cour. C.: le senestrochère, posé sur le coude, entre un vol coupé alt. d'arg. et d'azur; le vol accosté de deux pennons d'azur, ch. chacun d'une fleur-de-lis d'or. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1792
Where the Heckel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Heckel arms are recorded
The Heckel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1792.
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.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Germany when the Heckel 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Heckel Family in Germany
The surname Heckel is rooted in the linguistic traditions of southern Germany, specifically within the Bavarian region. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname derived from the Middle High German word "hecke," which refers to a hedge or a thicket. In the medieval period, such names were often given to individuals who lived near a prominent boundary of bushes or worked as a hedge trimmer. By the time historical records confirm the presence of the Heckel family in Bavaria in 1792, the name had become a well-established identifier for families living in rural or semi-rural communities. These early ancestors were likely part of the agrarian society that defined the Bavarian landscape, where families were often tied to specific plots of land or local trades. Over generations, the name evolved from a simple descriptor into a permanent family identity that was passed down through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hag
An enclosure, hedge, or fenced area of land.
This name
HeckelA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near a hedge or enclosure.
also spelled
Hekel
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
