A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heikens family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3689 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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 chev. de gu., acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis du même.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Heikens Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Heikens arms are recorded
The Heikens arms were recorded in Amsterdam, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Heikens Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Heikens arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Heikens Family in Netherlands
The surname Heikens is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Heike. This name is deeply rooted in the Low German and Frisian linguistic traditions common throughout the northern regions of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, the family had established a presence in the bustling port city of Amsterdam. During this period, Amsterdam was recovering from the Napoleonic era and transitioning into a major center of trade and industry. Families like the Heikens were part of the urban workforce that helped rebuild the city’s economy. Because record-keeping became more standardized under the civil registration laws introduced in 1811, the family’s presence in the city archives provides a clear link to their lives during this time of national transformation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hagano
A Germanic element meaning enclosure, hedge, or protected area.
This name
HeikensA patronymic form meaning son of Heike, a diminutive of names starting with the Germanic element hag.
also spelled
Heikens
Haykens
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
