A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leichman family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un cadavre dans son cercueil posé sur un brancard, le tout nat. C.: une bêche au nat., posée en pal, le fer en haut; entre un vol, de sa. et de gu. L. de gu. et de sa.”
The Leichman arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1765.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of coats 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 Germany in this period.
Reigning in Germany when the Leichman arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Leichman is rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with clear historical evidence placing the family in the state of Hesse by the year 1765. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "leich," which often referred to a song, a melody, or a specific type of rhythmic dance. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have been professional musicians, performers, or individuals known for their involvement in local folk traditions. During the eighteenth century, families in Hesse were often identified by their trade or a notable personal trait, and the transition of this name into a permanent surname reflects the growing importance of record-keeping in rural German communities. As these early members settled into the Hessian landscape, they became part of the agricultural and artisanal fabric of the region, helping to establish a lineage that would eventually spread far beyond their original home.
German word for corpse or body
