A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heydt family of Germany.
Reg. 7869 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'azur à trois feuilles de houx malordonnées d'or; au fr.-q. d'arg., ch. d'une aigle de Prusse; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un lion de gu., arm., lamp. et cour. d'azur, tenant des brins de bruyère au nat.; le lion du 3 cont.; au 4 d'azur à trois feuilles de houx mal-ordonnées d'or. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une feuille de houx d'or, entre un vol d'azur, chaque aile ch. d'une feuille pareille; L. d'or et d'azur; 2° le lion du 2, iss.; L. d'or et de gu. D.: FIDE ET LABORE.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Heydt arms are recorded
The Heydt arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Heydt 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Heydt Family in Germany
The family name Heydt is rooted in the German language and carries a descriptive meaning related to the landscape. In Middle High German, the word *heide* referred to a stretch of uncultivated land, a heath, or a field covered in shrubs. Families who adopted this name often lived near such open, wild areas, which served as a natural landmark for their community. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Heydt family were well-established in the Westphalia region of Germany. During this period, Westphalia was a center for agriculture and emerging trade, and families like the Heydts were typically integrated into the local village life as farmers or skilled craftsmen. The name reflects a time when a person’s identity was closely tied to the specific geography of their home, marking them as people of the heath.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
An uncultivated area of land or a heath.
This name
HeydtRefers to someone who lived on or near a heath or uncultivated wasteland.
also spelled
Heyd
Hayt
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
Udolph, Jürgen, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
