A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heyden family of Germany.
Reg. 6552 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec. de gu. et d'azur; à cinq grenades allumées au nat., br. sur le tout, 2, 1 et 2. Cq. cour. C.: quatre pl. d'aut., les deux ext. de gu., les deux autres d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Heyden arms are recorded
The Heyden 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 Heyden 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 Heyden Family in Germany
The surname Heyden is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it functioned as a topographic descriptor for people who lived near a heath or an open, uncultivated field. By the middle of the 18th century, the family was firmly established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, the social structure of the area was heavily influenced by agrarian life and local parish administration. Families like the Heydens were often deeply connected to the land they worked, and their presence in 1765 suggests they were part of the stable, tax-paying citizenry that formed the backbone of Bavarian village life. As the name spread through the German-speaking lands, it evolved from a simple description of a person’s home into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations of laborers, tradespeople, and community members.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
A tract of uncultivated land or heath.
This name
HeydenRefers to someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Heyde
Hayden
Related arms
Heidenvariant spelling
Heydevariant spelling
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
