Map of Germany showing where the Hennig arms are recorded
The Hennig arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1556.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Germany when the Hennig 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Hennig Family in Germany
The surname Hennig originated as a shortened form of the Germanic name Johannes, which eventually evolved into the nickname Henne. During the Middle Ages, it became common for people to adopt these nicknames as permanent family identifiers. By the mid-sixteenth century, the Hennig family had established a notable presence in the region of Bavaria. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living and working in this area by 1556. At that time, Bavaria was a center of significant religious and social change, and families like the Hennigs were often involved in local trade or agricultural life. As the name spread through different German-speaking territories, it became a recognized identifier for families who traced their roots back to these early Bavarian ancestors.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
God is gracious
This name
HennigA diminutive form of the name John, meaning God is gracious.
also spelled
Henig
Hennick
Henning
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
