A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heide family of Germany.
Reg. 0904 · 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 Heide Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Heide arms are recorded
The Heide 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 Heide 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 Heide Family in Germany
The surname Heide is a topographical name, meaning it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. In Middle High German, the word "heide" refers to a heath, a moor, or an open field covered in low-growing shrubs. Families who took this name likely lived near or worked on these uncultivated stretches of land. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Heide family were well-established in the region of Silesia. During this era, Silesia was a diverse area with a complex history of shifting borders and cultural influences. Families like the Heides often played roles in local agricultural or village life, as the name itself suggests a deep connection to the geography of the countryside. Over time, as people moved from rural areas into growing towns, the name remained a permanent link to the specific environment their ancestors once called home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
A tract of uncultivated land covered with low-growing shrubs or heather.
This name
HeideA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Heyde
Heiden
Heid
Hide
Hyde
Related arms
Heydevariant spelling
van der Heydevariant spelling
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
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
