A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Jessen family of Germany.
Reg. 9187 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'or à un arbre de sin., posé sur un tertre de trois coupeaux du même, et un ours de sa., pass. devant le fût de l'arbre; le tout acc. d'une main d'arg., mouv. d'une nuée d'azur au canton sen. du chef, tenant une lance de fer et blessant dans les reins ledit ours, qui retourne la tête vers la lance. Cq. cour. C.: un ours iss. de sa., tenant de ses pattes un rameau de laurier de sin. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Jessen arms are recorded
The Jessen arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Jessen 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Jessen Family in Germany
The surname Jessen is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Jess. The name Jess itself served as a shortened version of Johannes, a popular name derived from the Hebrew name John. By the time members of the family were documented in Saxony in 1765, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families with this name were often part of the hardworking middle class in Northern Germany and Denmark, frequently working as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials. Because the name was tied to a common given name, it emerged independently in several different regions, allowing the family to establish deep roots across various German-speaking territories long before the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
Hebrew for God is gracious
This name
JessenA patronymic surname meaning son of John or son of Johannes.
also spelled
Jesson
Related arms
Majosimilar arms
Seulsimilar arms
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
handFaith, sincerity and justice
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
handFaith, sincerity and justice
