A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mark family of Germany.
Reg. 7652 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'azur à la fasce échiq. de gu. et d'arg. de trois tires, acc. en chef d'une étoile d'or et en p. de trois roses du même, 2 et 1. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° une étoile d'or, entre un vol, coupé alt. d'azur et d'or; 2° une aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or; 3° un tuyau échiq. d'arg. et de gu., rempli de trois pl. d'aut. d'azur. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Mark arms are recorded
The Mark 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 Germany when the Mark 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 Mark Family in Germany
The family name Mark finds its roots in the Germanic regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive name derived from the Old High German word "marka," meaning a boundary or a borderland. People who lived near these territorial markers or served as guardians of the frontier often adopted this name to distinguish themselves within their communities. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Bavaria. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living there by 1765, likely working as farmers or tradespeople within the structured social hierarchy of the Holy Roman Empire. Over time, the name evolved alongside the shifting borders of the region, reflecting the family's long-standing connection to the landscape and the local administrative systems of Southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Marcus
Derived from the Roman god of war Mars.
This name
MarkA German surname denoting someone who lived near a borderland or march.
also spelled
Marck
Marc
Related arms
Parmasimilar arms
Marcvariant spelling
Marckvariant spelling
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
