A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heineken family of Germany.
Reg. 0544 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à une tête et col d'aigle cont. de sa., tenant en son bec un annelet d'or; au 2 d'arg. à trois bandes ondées de gu. Cq. cour. C.: la tête d'aigle, tournée à dextre, entre deux prob. d'or; le tout devant un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux aigles reg. de sa., bq. et m. d'or.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Heineken arms are recorded
The Heineken arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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 Heineken 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Heineken Family in Germany
The family name Heineken traces its roots back to the northern regions of Germany, with documented evidence placing family members in the territory of Saxony by 1765. The name itself is a patronymic, meaning it was originally derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. Specifically, it is a diminutive form of the name Heinrich, which translates to "little Heinrich" or "son of Heinrich." During the eighteenth century, families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit communities where such names helped distinguish individuals within a growing population. As the family moved and expanded throughout the German states, they carried this name as a marker of their lineage. By the mid-1700s, the name had become firmly established, reflecting the common naming traditions of the era while serving as a bridge to the family's future prominence in trade and industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heinrich
Derived from Germanic elements meaning home and ruler.
This name
HeinekenA patronymic form indicating a descendant of someone named Heinrich.
also spelled
Heinecken
Heyneken
Heinekenn
Hynaken
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
Heineken, Alfred Henry, Heineken: Een familiebedrijf in de brouwerij, 1996
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Bestand 10024 (Geheimer Rat)
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
