A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Soden family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1687 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur arg., à deux roses de l'un à l'autre, 1 en chef et 1 en p. Cq. cour. C.: deux banderoles adossées, coupées de gu. sur arg., attachées à des lances d'or.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Soden arms are recorded
The Soden arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Soden 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Soden Family in Germany
The surname Soden is rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, where it functioned as a topographical name. In the German language, the term *Soden* refers to a sod or a patch of turf, suggesting that the earliest families to carry this name likely lived near a prominent grassy area or worked as laborers who cut and prepared peat for fuel. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that members of the Soden family were established in the Bavarian region. During this period, Bavaria was a collection of rural communities where families were often tied closely to the land they cultivated. Life for these early ancestors centered on local parish life and agricultural cycles, which helped define their social standing within their villages. As the family grew and moved through these Bavarian territories, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral connection to the soil and the specific geography of their home.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a man's head couped at the neck ar”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Soden arms are recorded
The Soden arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Germany when the Soden arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Soden Family in England
The surname Soden has deep roots in the northern English landscape, particularly within the historic city of York. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the Soden family were well-established residents in this region. The name likely originated as a locative or occupational descriptor, evolving from Old English terms that described people living near specific types of terrain or those who worked in local trades. During the 1620s, York served as a vital hub for commerce and administration, and the presence of the Soden family there suggests they were integrated into the social and economic life of the city. As the family grew, they moved through the shifting political and religious landscapes of Stuart England, leaving behind traces in parish registers and local administrative documents that mark their long-standing connection to the north of England.
Soden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Sode
A Middle High German term referring to a well or pit.
This name
SodenAn occupational or topographic name for someone who lived near a well or a pit.
also spelled
Sode
Sodden
Sodan
Soddin
Related arms
Sodevariant spelling
Sodanvariant spelling
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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
