A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sheikh family of Austria.
Reg. 0092 · Austrian, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. à un griffon d'or, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 coupé d'arg. sur gu., à une ancre de l'un en l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: un griffon iss. d'or, tenant une ancre coupée de gu. sur arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1793
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Map of Austria showing where the Sheikh arms are recorded
The Sheikh arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1793.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1793
Granting Authority for the Sheikh Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Austria when the Sheikh arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Sheikh Family in Austria
The family name Sheikh has deep roots that connect to the movement of people across diverse regions, including the mountainous landscapes of Tyrol by the late eighteenth century. In its original Arabic context, the term sheikh served as a title of respect for an elder, a tribal leader, or a scholar of great wisdom. As families migrated through trade routes or political shifts, this title often transitioned from a descriptive role into a formal hereditary surname. By 1793, records indicate that individuals bearing this name were established within the Tyrolean region, suggesting a history of integration into local Alpine communities. This transition reflects the broader human experience of families carrying their ancestral titles into new cultural environments while adapting to the social structures of their adopted homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
shaykh
an elder or a person of authority and respect
This name
Sheikha title of honor denoting a leader, scholar, or tribal chief
also spelled
Schick
Shick
Shickh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Standesbücher der Pfarreien (Parish registers of Tyrol)
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Grundbuch der Bezirkshauptmannschaft (Land registry records)
Haidacher, Christoph, Die Tiroler Landesverwaltung im 18. Jahrhundert, 1991
Wiesflecker, Hermann, Geschichte von Stadt und Land Salzburg, 1988
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