A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Winks family of Germany.
Reg. 4808 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. à un arbre de sin., accosté de deux sangliers affr. de sa., ramp. contre le fût; le tout soutenu d'une colline de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un arbre iss. de sin. L.: d'arg. et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1745
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Map of Germany showing where the Winks arms are recorded
The Winks arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1745.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Winks 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 Winks Family in Germany
The history of the Winks family name in Bavaria traces back to the mid-eighteenth century, a time when the region was part of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier for individuals living in specific rural settlements or working in local trades. In the German-speaking lands of the 1700s, family names often shifted based on local dialects and the way scribes recorded names in parish registers. Members of the Winks family in 1745 were likely part of the agrarian society that defined the Bavarian landscape, where families often remained in the same villages for generations. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the eighteenth century, their name became a permanent marker of their identity within their local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Winkel
A corner, angle, or a secluded nook of land.
This name
WinksA topographic name for someone who lived in a corner or a remote settlement.
also spelled
Wynz
Winz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Pfarrbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising
Kohl, Wilhelm, Die Geschichte der deutschen Familiennamen, 1998
Kunze, Konrad, dtv-Atlas Namenkunde: Vor- und Familiennamen im deutschen Sprachgebiet, 2004
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
