Map of France showing where the Mengen arms are recorded
The Mengen arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Mengen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Mengen Family in France
The history of the Mengen family in France is deeply rooted in the border region of Lorraine, where members were firmly established by 1663. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, often caught between the influence of the French crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area frequently navigated a complex landscape of shifting borders and changing local governance. The name itself likely emerged from the linguistic blend common to this region, where German and French influences met. Early bearers of the name were often part of the rural or merchant classes who helped stabilize the local economy after the devastation of the Thirty Years' War. By settling in Lorraine in the mid-17th century, the Mengen family became part of a resilient population that maintained its identity despite the frequent military conflicts and administrative transitions that defined the history of the province.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 trois étoiles d'or; l'écu bordé du même. Cq. cour. C.: une tête et col d'aigle de sa., bq. et cour. d'or, entre deux prob. tort. d'arg.”
Germanyc. 1771
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Mengen arms are recorded
The Mengen arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1771.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in France when the Mengen 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 Mengen Family in Germany
The family name Mengen is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the late 18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living through a period defined by agricultural traditions and the complex social structures of the Holy Roman Empire. The name itself is often linked to local geography, as it likely originated as a topographic identifier for people who lived near or hailed from specific settlements. During the 1700s, life for the Mengen family in Bavaria would have revolved around the seasonal rhythms of village life, local parish administration, and the shifting political borders of the German states. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of rural Bavarian society, contributing to the local economy and maintaining ties to their community through church records and regional land registries.
Mengen Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mengin
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Mengaud or Mengin.
This name
MengenA locational or patronymic surname derived from the personal name Mengin, meaning strength or power.
also spelled
Menger
Mengene
Related arms
Schlemüllersimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Cabourdin, Guy, La Lorraine dans la guerre de Trente Ans, 1964
Martin, Jean-François, Histoire de la Lorraine, 2005
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales de la Moselle, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
