A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hedrich family of Germany.
Reg. 2805 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Tiercé en fasce de sa., d'arg. et de gu., l'arg. ch. de trois roses de gu., rangées en fasce. C.: un homme barbu iss., coiffé de roseaux au nat., hab. de gu., les avant-bras nus, tenant de sa main dextre un brochet (poisson) au nat.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1871
Where the Hedrich Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Hedrich arms are recorded
The Hedrich arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1871.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Hedrich arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Silesia.
Origin & History of the Hedrich Family in Germany
The surname Hedrich is a German name that evolved from the ancient Germanic given name Heidenrich. This name combines the roots for "heathen" or "people" and "ruler," effectively meaning a powerful leader of the people. By the 19th century, the family had established a strong presence in the region of Silesia, which was then part of the German Empire. During this period, the area was a center for agriculture and emerging industrial growth, providing families like the Hedrichs with opportunities to settle and build stable communities. As the name spread through central Europe, it became a common identifier for families who traced their roots back to these hardworking populations in the eastern German territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heidrich
Derived from the Germanic elements for ruler and home or enclosure.
This name
HedrichA surname signifying a powerful or wealthy ruler of an estate or home.
also spelled
Hederick
Hedrich
Hederik
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu (State Archives in Wrocław), Standesamtliche Register (Civil Registry Records), 1871
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