A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wachenheim family of France.
Reg. 1832 · French, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé d'or sur arg.: à la fasce de gu., br. sur le coupé et soutenant trois corbeaux de sa. sur l'or. Cq. cour. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu (sans corbeaux). L. d'or et de gu.”
Francec. 1790
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Map of France showing where the Wachenheim arms are recorded
The Wachenheim arms were recorded in France, c. 1790.
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 XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in France when the Wachenheim 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 Wachenheim Family in France
The family name Wachenheim originates from the German-speaking regions of the Rhineland, specifically linked to the town of Wachenheim an der Weinstraße. The name itself is locational, meaning it was originally used to identify people who moved away from this specific settlement. By the late 18th century, members of the family had migrated westward, establishing a presence in the Brittany region of France by 1790. This movement was likely influenced by the shifting political borders and economic opportunities found in Western Europe during that era. As the family settled into their new environment, they integrated into local society while maintaining the connection to their ancestral German roots through their surname. This transition reflects the broader patterns of migration that defined many European families during the turbulent years of the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wachenheim
Derived from the German words for watch or guard and home.
This name
WachenheimRefers to a person originating from a settlement near a watchtower or guard post.
also spelled
Wakhenheim
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E, État civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ravenConstancy and divine providence
