A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lichtenstein family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5807 · Danish, 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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 une aigle de profil de sa., volante au-dessus d'un autel carré d'arg., posé sur une terrasse de sin.; le tout acc. d'un soleil d'or, mouv. du canton dextre du chef; l'écu bordé d'or. C.: une étoile d'or, entre un vol de sa.”
Denmarkc. 1777
Where the Lichtenstein Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Lichtenstein arms are recorded
The Lichtenstein arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1777.
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.
Christian VII of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Christian VII of Denmark
1766–1808
Reigning in Denmark when the Lichtenstein 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 Lichtenstein Family in Denmark
The history of the Lichtenstein name in Denmark is rooted in the social shifts of the late eighteenth century. By 1777, records confirm that members of the family were established on the island of Sjælland. During this period, Denmark was undergoing significant administrative changes, and families with German-sounding surnames often moved into the region to take up roles in trade, military service, or the growing civil bureaucracy of Copenhagen. The name itself suggests a connection to the broader Germanic cultural sphere, which held strong influence over Danish society at the time. As these early family members settled into the local community, they integrated into the daily life of Sjælland, contributing to the professional and social fabric of the island. Their presence reflects a time when families frequently relocated across borders to pursue new opportunities in the expanding urban centers of Northern Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.-denché de gu. et d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: deux prob. de gu., ornées chacune à l'ext. de cinq pl. d'aut. d'arg., dont une dans l'embouchure.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Lichtenstein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Lichtenstein arms are recorded
The Lichtenstein arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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 Denmark when the Lichtenstein 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 Lichtenstein Family in Germany
The name Lichtenstein is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific geographic location rather than a single family lineage. In German, the name translates to bright stone or light rock, likely referring to a castle or settlement built upon a prominent limestone cliff. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, families often adopted names based on the physical features of their ancestral lands to distinguish themselves within their local communities. As these individuals moved through the German states, the name served as a marker of their geographic origins, linking them to the distinct rocky landscapes that defined their early history in southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lichten + Stein
Light or bright combined with stone or rock.
This name
LichtensteinRefers to a person living near a bright or shining stone or rock formation.
also spelled
Lichtensteyn
Lychtenstein
Liktenstine
Lichtenstine
Related arms
Ermerinssimilar arms
Galartsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Folketælling 1787 (Census records for Sjælland)
Jørgensen, Harald, Da Danmark blev moderne: Administration og samfund i det 18. århundrede, 1987
Trap, J.P., Statistisk-topographisk Beskrivelse af Kongeriget Danmark, 1858
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
