A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mengen family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3015 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
What the shield shows
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois chev. de sa.”
LorrainePays-Messin · Lorraine, c. 1663
Where the Mengen Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
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 finds its roots in the historic region of Lorraine. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this borderland. During the seventeenth century, Lorraine was a complex territory caught between the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the expanding French kingdom. Families living here often navigated shifting political loyalties and frequent conflicts. The name likely reflects the linguistic blend of the region, where Germanic and Romance influences met.
Living in Lorraine required resilience as the area faced constant military movements and social change. Early ancestors of the Mengen line adapted to these pressures by settling into local agricultural and trade communities. Their presence remains a testament to the endurance of families in this storied 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
What the shield shows
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
Where the Mengen Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
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 finds its roots in the southern regions of Germany. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Bavaria by 1771. During this era, the name was closely tied to the rural landscapes and agricultural traditions of the Bavarian countryside. Families often took their names from the specific villages or local landmarks where they lived and worked. This practice helped neighbors identify individuals based on their geographic origins.
As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric. They participated in the daily life of their communities through farming and trade. These early ancestors helped shape the regional identity of Bavaria during a time of significant social change across the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
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
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B, Registres paroissiaux
Bastien, Pierre, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1978
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine au XVIIe siècle, 1984
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
