A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leiker family of Germany.
Reg. 2229 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
duckResourcefulness on land and water
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une canette cont. d'arg., volante en barre; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la barre de gu., ch. d'une rose d'arg. Sur le tout de sa. à une étoile (8) d'or. C.: l'étoile, entre un vol, l'aile dextre partie d'arg. et d'azur, l'aile sen. partie d'azur et d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Leiker arms are recorded
The Leiker arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Germany when the Leiker 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 Leiker Family in Germany
The family name Leiker traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the historic city of Nuremberg by 1765. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of early family members. The name itself is thought to be derived from Middle High German terms related to specific trades or personal characteristics common in the region. As residents of a bustling imperial city, these early Leikers lived through a time of significant social and economic change in the Holy Roman Empire. Their presence in such a prominent urban hub suggests that they were integrated into the local guild systems or merchant networks that defined the city’s identity during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Leich
A Germanic term referring to a corpse or a funeral procession.
This name
LeikerAn occupational surname for an undertaker or someone involved in funeral arrangements.
also spelled
Linker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg (1765)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
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