Map of France showing where the Steinke arms are recorded
The Steinke arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Steinke 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 France.
Origin & History of the Steinke Family in France
The name Steinke is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it evolved as a diminutive form of the Middle Low German word "stein," meaning stone. While the name is most commonly associated with regions in Northern Germany and Prussia, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the province of Bretagne, France, by 1663. This presence in Western France suggests that early ancestors were likely part of the migration patterns involving soldiers, merchants, or skilled laborers who moved across European borders during the seventeenth century. The name often served as a descriptive identifier for someone who lived near a prominent stone landmark or worked as a stonemason. Over time, the family adapted to the local social structures of their new homes while maintaining the linguistic heritage of their original surname.
Steinke Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Stein
A German word meaning stone or rock.
This name
SteinkeA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near a stone or worked as a stonemason.
also spelled
Steinkernen
Steinkernn
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
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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