A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Skovgaard family of Denmark.
Reg. 5949 · Danish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 une aigle de profil d'arg., le vol levé. C.: deux têtes et cols de cygne affr. d'arg., tenant de leurs becs une bague d'or, châtonnée d'un rubis.”
Denmarkc. 1722
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Map of Denmark showing where the Skovgaard arms are recorded
The Skovgaard arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Skovgaard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Skovgaard Family in Denmark
The name Skovgaard is a classic example of a topographical surname, which means it was derived from the physical landscape where a family lived. In Danish, the word "skov" means forest, and "gaard" refers to a farm or an enclosed piece of land. Therefore, the name originally identified a family that lived on a farm situated near or within a wooded area. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the Skovgaard family were well-established on the island of Sjælland. During this period, families often took their names from the specific properties they managed or owned, allowing the name to serve as both a geographic marker and a sign of their connection to the rural landscape of Denmark.
Skovgaard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Skov and Gaard
Skov means forest or wood and Gaard means farm or enclosure.
This name
SkovgaardRefers to a farmstead located within or adjacent to a forest.
also spelled
Skovgard
Skovgaarde
Skovgaart
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Knudsen, Anders, Danske Efternavne, 1999
Nielsen, Oluf, Bidrag til dansk Navneforskning, 1883
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger fra Sjælland (Parish registers from Sjælland)
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Folketællinger og Jordebøger (Census and land records)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
