A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heyd family of Germany.
Reg. 1829 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 demi-ramure de cerf de sa., posée en pal, les dagues à dextre; au 2 de gu. à une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° l'épée, entre une ramure de cerf de sa.; l° d'or et de sa.; 2° un buste d'homme barbu, hab. d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet du même, retr. de gu.; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1809
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Map of Germany showing where the Heyd arms are recorded
The Heyd arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1809.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Heyd arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Heyd Family in Germany
The surname Heyd originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep roots in the historical state of Württemberg. The name is generally classified as a topographic or descriptive surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word *heide*, which refers to a heath or an open, uncultivated field. Families bearing this name were often associated with those who lived near or worked on such lands. By the early 19th century, records confirm that the Heyd family was well-established within the Württemberg region, participating in the local agricultural and civic life of the area. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of southwestern Germany, reflecting the common naming patterns of the era where surnames were tied to the landscape and the specific geography of a person’s home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
A tract of uncultivated land or heath.
This name
HeydA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Heyd
Heydenschwert
Heyde
Hay de Haydenshwert
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, Bestand E 157: Württembergische Zivilstandsregister, 1809
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
swordJustice, and military honour
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
swordJustice, and military honour
