A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heimbach family of Germany.
Reg. 7658 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à deux fasces de sa., frettées du champ. C.: une plante de roseaux, entre deux prob. aux armes de l'écu.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Heimbach Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Heimbach arms are recorded
The Heimbach arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Heimbach 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Heimbach Family in Germany
The surname Heimbach is a topographical name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts, with "heim" referring to a home or a settlement and "bach" meaning a stream or a brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a small creek or a stream located within or near their village. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Heimbach family were well-established in the Westphalia region of Germany. During this era, families in Westphalia were often deeply connected to the land and local agricultural traditions. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local community through their work and daily life in the rural landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heim and Bach
Home or settlement and a small stream or brook.
This name
HeimbachRefers to a person living near a stream located by a home or village settlement.
also spelled
Heimbach-Hoen
Heymbach
Heimbach
Himbach dit Hon
Himbach dit Hoen
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Westfalen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
