A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heckenberg family of Germany.
Reg. 6173 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 d'arg.; au 2 parti: a. reparti d'arg. et de gu.; b. d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., coll. d'arg., mouv. du parti; au 3 parti: a. d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., coll. d'arg., mouv. du parti; b. reparti de gu. et d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa., coll. d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Heckenberg Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Heckenberg arms are recorded
The Heckenberg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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 Heckenberg 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 Heckenberg Family in Germany
The surname Heckenberg is rooted in the landscape of southern Germany, specifically within the historical region of Bavaria. The name is topographical in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by families who lived near a "Heckenberg," or a hill covered in hedges and thickets. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living as part of the rural agricultural society that defined the Bavarian countryside at the time. Life for these early ancestors centered on the seasonal rhythms of farming and the local traditions of their village communities. As the family grew, they remained closely tied to the geography of the region, carrying a name that served as a permanent reminder of the specific hills and natural landmarks where their ancestors first settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hecke and Berg
Hedge or enclosure and mountain or hill.
This name
HeckenbergA topographic name for someone who lived by a hedge on a hill or mountain.
also spelled
Hekenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
