A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heigel family of Germany.
Reg. 7957 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 de sa. au lion d'or, tenant de ses pattes un marteau d'armes d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un croiss. tourné d'arg. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti d'or et d'azur, tenant de sa main dextre étendue le marteau du 1, et coiffé d'un bonnet d'arg., sommé de quatre pl. d'aut.: d'or, de sa., d'azur et d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyCham Bav, c. 1765
Where the Heigel Arms Were Recorded
Cham
Map of Germany showing where the Heigel arms are recorded
The Heigel arms were recorded in Cham Bav, c. 1765.
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 Heigel 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 Heigel Family in Germany
The surname Heigel is rooted in the linguistic traditions of southern Germany, where it likely originated as a diminutive form of names beginning with the Germanic element "hagan," meaning an enclosure or a hedge. By the mid-18th century, the family was firmly established in the town of Cham, located in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria. During this era, Cham served as a vital center for trade and local administration, placing the Heigel family within a community defined by its proximity to the Bohemian border. Historical records from 1765 confirm their presence in this area, suggesting that early family members were integrated into the local social and economic fabric of the town. As residents of a bustling market settlement, they were likely involved in the traditional crafts or agricultural activities that sustained the region during the 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hugo
Derived from the Germanic word for mind, intellect, or heart.
This name
HeigelA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of someone named Hugo.
also spelled
Heygel
Heigell
Heigler
Haigel
Related arms
Mordaxt de Portendorfsimilar arms
Heiglvariant spelling
Behambrecorded with Heigel, same area
Gehringrecorded with Heigel, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Regierungsakten des Kurfürstentums Bayern, 1765
Stadtarchiv Cham, Bürger- und Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Cham, 1765
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
