A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heineck family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5600 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tranché: au 1 de sa. au lion d'or; au 2 d'arg. à la bande d'azur. C.: un lion iss. d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Heineck Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Heineck arms are recorded
The Heineck arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Heineck Family in Switzerland
The family name Heineck is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a diminutive form of names containing the element "hagan," which refers to an enclosure or a protective hedge. By the mid-18th century, members of the family were firmly established in the city of Bern, Switzerland. During this era, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict patrician class, and families living within its walls were often involved in the city’s vibrant trade guilds or administrative services. The presence of the Heineck name in 1745 suggests that the family was part of the urban middle class that helped maintain the city’s economic stability during a time of relative peace and prosperity in the Swiss Confederation. As the family integrated into the local culture of Bern, they became part of the long history of German-speaking citizens who shaped the civic and social life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heinrich
Derived from Germanic elements meaning home ruler or enclosure ruler.
This name
HeineckA diminutive or patronymic form referring to a descendant of someone named Henry.
also spelled
Kuhne-de-Heineck
Kune de Reineck
Kuhne
Heineck
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
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Tauf-, Ehe- und Totenrodel)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
