A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holten family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3381 · Danish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois chênes au nat., rangés sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: un vol à l'antique de gu., ch. d'une fasce d'arg., surch. d'un gland effeuillé d'or, la queue en haut. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sin., à sen. d'arg. et de gu. - Armes mod.: D'arg. à trois fasces d'azur, ch. de six flanchis du champ, 3, 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: deux cornes de buffle, d'azur et d'arg.”
Denmarkc. 1722
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Map of Denmark showing where the Holten arms are recorded
The Holten arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Holten arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Holten Family in Denmark
The Holten family name has deep roots in the cultural landscape of the Danish island of Sjælland. By the early 18th century, the family was already established in this region, with records confirming their presence there as early as 1722. During this period, the name was often associated with families of professional standing, including those involved in the civil service and the Lutheran clergy. These early ancestors lived through a time when Denmark was transitioning toward a more centralized administrative state, which encouraged families to adopt stable surnames to track lineage and property. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Sjælland, often moving between rural parishes and urban centers like Copenhagen. Their history reflects the broader movement of Danish families who sought to build stable lives through education and community service during the 1700s.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un homme, hab. de sa., coiffé d'un chapeau du même, tenant une hache posée sur son épaule dextre, et senestré d'un arbre de sin., mouv. du flanc sen.; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique d'arg. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
GermanyLubeck, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Holten arms are recorded
The Holten arms were recorded in Lubeck, c. 1765.
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 Denmark when the Holten 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 Holten Family in Germany
The family name Holten is deeply rooted in the northern regions of Germany, where it likely originated as a topographical description for people who lived near a wood or a forest. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was firmly established in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, a major center for trade and culture along the Baltic Sea. Records confirm that members of the Holten family were active residents of this city by 1765, participating in the urban life of a region defined by its maritime connections and merchant guilds. During this period, Lübeck served as a gateway for families to move between German territories and the broader Scandinavian world. This geographic position suggests that the early holders of the name were likely involved in the bustling commerce or skilled crafts that defined the city during the Enlightenment era. As the family settled into these urban environments, they became part of the long-standing social fabric of northern Germany, contributing to the development of local trade networks and civic life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Holt
A small wood or grove of trees.
This name
HoltenDerived from a topographic location referring to someone who lived near a wood.
also spelled
Holtenn
Holtin
Holtine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Larsen, Albert. Danske Slægtsnavne. 1928
Nielsen, Oluf. Kjøbenhavns Historie og Beskrivelse. 1877
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Danske Kancelli, Supplikprotokoller
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
knightChivalry and service in arms
