A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wagenheim family of France.
Reg. 7079 · 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 Wagenheim arms are recorded
The Wagenheim 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 Wagenheim 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 Wagenheim Family in France
The name Wagenheim is rooted in the Germanic tradition, where it historically identified families living near a specific location or dwelling. While the name carries a strong Germanic linguistic origin, members of the family were documented as residents of the Brittany region in France by 1790. This suggests a migration pattern common during the late eighteenth century, as families moved across borders for trade, military service, or political stability. By settling in Brittany, the family integrated into the local social fabric of the era, which was defined by the transition from the feudal structures of the Ancien Régime to the new administrative systems of the French Revolution. This early presence in France highlights the family’s ability to adapt to new cultural environments while maintaining a surname that reflects their deeper ancestral ties to Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wagen and Heim
Wagen means vehicle or wagon and Heim means home or settlement.
This name
WagenheimRefers to a person who lived at or near a home located by a wagon depot.
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, État civil et registres paroissiaux de Bretagne, 1790
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
