A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heid family of Germany.
Reg. 1105 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
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)
“D'arg. au lion reg. de gu. C.: un chapeau piramidal de gu., retr. d'herm., accolé d'une corde d'arg. et sommé de quatre pl. d'aut. du même”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Heid Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Heid arms are recorded
The Heid arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Heid 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Heid Family in Germany
The family name Heid has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. During this period, Silesia was a vibrant territory caught between the cultural influences of Central Europe, and families like the Heids were often involved in the local agricultural or trade economies that defined village life. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer Germanic name, reflecting the common naming customs of the eighteenth century. As the family established themselves in the region, they became part of the social fabric of Silesian towns, contributing to the local community through their daily work and civic participation. By tracing their presence back to the mid-1700s, we see a family that was well-integrated into the shifting borders and changing political landscapes of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
A tract of uncultivated land or heath.
This name
HeidA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Heyde
Heiden
Heid
Hide
Hyde
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Knie, Johann Georg, Alphabetisch-statistisch-topographische Uebersicht der Dörfer, Flecken, Städte und anderen Orte der königlichen preußischen Provinz Schlesien, 1845
Zimmermann, Friedrich Albert, Beyträge zur Beschreibung von Schlesien, 1783–1796
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich i ewangelickich na Śląsku (Parish registers of Roman Catholic and Evangelical parishes in Silesia)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
