A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meschke family of Germany.
Reg. 2863 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à un rencontre de buffle de sa., accorné et bouclé d'arg.; au 2 de sa. à un dextrochère, arm. d'arg., mouv. du parti, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., entre deux prob.”
GermanyPrusse orientale, c. 1843
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Map of Germany showing where the Meschke arms are recorded
The Meschke arms were recorded in Prusse orientale, c. 1843.
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.
Frederick William IV of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William IV of Prussia
1840–1861
Reigning in Germany when the Meschke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Meschke Family in Germany
The family name Meschke is rooted in the historical regions of Central Europe, with strong evidence placing the family in the Bavarian landscape by the mid-nineteenth century. The name itself is considered a variation of Slavic naming traditions that became integrated into German-speaking territories over several generations. During the early 1800s, families with this name were often part of the rural working class or skilled tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of southern Germany. By 1843, those bearing the name were well-established within their communities, likely participating in the agricultural and craft-based traditions that defined Bavarian life before the industrial expansion of the later century. As these individuals moved through the region, they helped preserve a distinct cultural identity that linked their ancestral origins to the evolving social structures of the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mieszko
A diminutive form of the Slavic name Mieczyslaw meaning sword glory.
This name
MeschkeA Germanized patronymic surname derived from the Slavic personal name Mieszko.
also spelled
Meskee
Meskes
Meskey
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Generalakten der Kreisregierungen, 1843
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
bullValour and generosity
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
