Map of Denmark showing where the Madsen arms are recorded
The Madsen 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 Madsen 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 Madsen Family in Denmark
The surname Madsen is a classic example of a patronymic naming system, which was the standard way of identifying people in Denmark for many centuries. The name literally translates to "son of Mads," as the suffix "-sen" indicates a direct descent from a father bearing that given name. By the early 18th century, families in the region of Sjælland were deeply rooted in local agricultural communities where these names helped distinguish one household from another. Records from 1722 confirm that families carrying the Madsen name were already established in these rural parishes, living lives centered around the seasonal rhythms of farming and local church life. Because surnames were not yet fixed as permanent family labels, a person’s identity was closely tied to their father’s first name, creating a living history that connected each generation back to their ancestors in the Danish countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Matthias
Derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu meaning gift of God.
This name
MadsenA patronymic surname meaning son of Mads, which is the Danish form of Matthew.
also spelled
Madson
Matson
Madssen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Sørensen, John Kousgård. Danske Surnavne. 1999
Hansen, Bent. Slægtsforskning i Danmark. 2004
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger (Parish Registers for Sjælland)
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heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
