Map of Denmark showing where the Ludke arms are recorded
The Ludke arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
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.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Ludke 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 Ludke Family in Denmark
The surname Ludke traces its roots back to the Germanic regions of Northern Europe, where it evolved as a diminutive form of the name Ludolf or Ludwig. By the early 18th century, members of the family had established a presence on the Danish island of Zealand, known in Danish as Sjælland. Historical records confirm that the family was settled in this region by 1722, likely working within the agricultural or artisan communities that defined the rural landscape of the time. During this period, surnames were becoming more formalized in parish registers, helping to track the movement and lineage of families across the Danish countryside. The name reflects a long history of migration and adaptation as the family integrated into the local culture of Zealand while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ludwig
Derived from Germanic elements meaning famous warrior or renowned fighter.
This name
LudkeA diminutive or patronymic form indicating a descendant of someone named Ludwig.
also spelled
Luedke
Ludeke
Luedeke
Loodke
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dansk Demografisk Database, Folketællinger og kirkebøger, Rigsarkivet
Nielsen, O., Navne i Danmark, 1883
Statens Arkiver, Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift, 1722
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
