A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hessen family of Germany.
Reg. 7189 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé d'azur sur arg.; au lion d'or, cour. du même, arm. et lamp. de gu., br. sur le coupé; l'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'or, posé de front, tenant de chaque patte une banderole d'azur bordée d'or et ch. d'une croisette pattée du même. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Hessen arms are recorded
The Hessen arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Hessen 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Hessen Family in Germany
The family name Hessen is deeply rooted in the historical geography of Germany, primarily serving as a topographic indicator for individuals who originated from the region of Hesse. While the name is famously tied to that central German territory, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Bavaria by 1765. During the eighteenth century, families often moved across German states to seek new agricultural opportunities or to follow employment in local trades. In Bavaria, these early ancestors likely integrated into the rural or village life of the region, maintaining their name as a way to preserve their ancestral identity even after settling far from their place of origin. This movement reflects the broader patterns of internal migration that defined the lives of many common families in the Holy Roman Empire during the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chatti
An ancient Germanic tribe inhabiting the region of Hesse.
This name
HessenRefers to a person originating from the historical territory of the Chatti people.
also spelled
Hesen
Hessin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung (1765)
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen (2005)
Kunze, Konrad, dtv-Atlas Namenkunde: Vor- und Familiennamen im deutschen Sprachgebiet (2004)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
