Map of Germany showing where the Litke arms are recorded
The Litke arms were recorded in Brandenburg, c. 1642.
Brandenburg was sandy farming country around Berlin, held in large estates by families who served as officers. Land and military service each brought arms, and most families there had both.
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.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Germany when the Litke 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 Brandenburg.
Origin & History of the Litke Family in Germany
The family name Litke traces its roots to the region of Brandenburg, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1642. During this period, the name emerged as a variation of the Slavic name Liut, which translates to people or kin. As families in the Brandenburg area began to adopt fixed surnames during the seventeenth century, the name evolved to reflect the linguistic blending of German and Slavic cultures common in the eastern territories of the Holy Roman Empire. Many individuals carrying this name were likely involved in agricultural life or local trade, as these were the primary occupations for families living in the rural villages surrounding Berlin during the mid-1600s. The survival of these early records suggests that the family was well-established within the local parish structures, which served as the central hub for tracking births, marriages, and deaths in the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'aigle ép. iss. de sa., bq. d'or, languée de gu., chaque tête cour. d'or, surm. d'une couronne impériale aux rubans flottants d'azur; au 2 d'or à une ancre de sa., l'or chapé-ployé d'azur, ch. à dextre de huit étoiles d'or, 3, 3 et 2 et à sen. de deux bannières d'arg. au saut. d'azur, passées en saut., et une boule d'or, br. sur le point d'intersection des hampes. Sur le tout d'or à une grue de sa., bq. et m. de gu., tenant une vigilance au nat. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° la grue du surtout, cont.; 2° une aigle ép. entière, pareille à l'aigle iss. du 1, portant sur son estomac un écusson de gu., bordé d'or et ch. d'un A d'or; 3° un vol, l'aile dextre d'azur semée d'étoiles d'or et ch. des bannières en saut. du 2 avec la boule br., l'aile sen. d'or ch. d'une ancre de sa. L. des 1 et 2 cq., d'or et de sa.; du 3, d'or et d'azur. T.: deux hommes d'armes, cuirassés d'arg., le haut-de-chausses d'azur rayé d'or, les bas d'azur, les souliers de sa., l'épée à la hanche, coiffés de morions d'arg., tenant chacun un drapeau d'arg. au saut. d'azur. D.: VIGILANS SERVIT.”
RussiaEsthonie, c. 1866
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Map of Russia showing where the Litke arms are recorded
The Litke arms were recorded in Esthonie, c. 1866.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are recorded.
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 Russia in this period.
Alexander II of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Alexander II of Russia
1855–1881
Reigning in Germany when the Litke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Litke Family in Russia
The Litke family name in Russia is deeply connected to a tradition of service and intellectual contribution that gained significant momentum during the nineteenth century. While the family roots trace back to German-speaking regions, they became firmly established within the Russian social fabric as they integrated into the professional and administrative life of the empire. By the time records place family members in Moscow in 1866, the name was already associated with individuals who occupied respected positions in society. These early generations often pursued careers in the military, civil service, or the sciences, which allowed them to move within the influential circles of the capital cities. Their presence in Moscow during this period reflects a broader trend of families with diverse European backgrounds settling into the Russian bureaucracy and helping to shape the cultural and professional landscape of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Liut
Old High German word meaning people or tribe.
This name
LitkeA diminutive form referring to a member of the people or tribe.
also spelled
Luetke
Lutkie
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
Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Mark Brandenburg, 1642
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
