Van Heeckeren

Heeckeren (also Heekeren or Hekeren ) is the name of a noble family from the duchy of Guelders.

History

The best known of Mr van Heeckeren was Friedrich ( circa 1295-1357 ), Lord of the Ehze, an estate, which is about ten kilometers east of Zutphen in the church today Gorssel. Frederick was councilor of Duke Rainald II In 1348 he came to loggerheads with Gysbrecht van Bronkhorst because of certain hunting and other rights. He formed an alliance with John of Arkel, Bishop of Utrecht. Gysbrecht van Bronkhorst, however, allied himself with the Duke Rainald. As his successor, Rainald III. , Feared a hegemony of Bronkhorster, he slapped his Heeckerens page. This was the beginning of a drawn-out conflict for decades. The Dutch nobility van Voorst and the counts of Rechteren - Limpurg are descended from him.

The present noble family named van Heeckeren descended from Jacob van Heker, Mr. van Roderlo, who died in 1440. Probably descended from this ancestor of older namesakes van Heeckeren, but the descent could not yet be proven. For this younger generation was Willem van Heeckeren van Kell (1815-1914), who was from 1858 to 1860 the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Coat of arms

As the family of Rechteren led the Heeckerens in the coat of arms with a red cross on golden background.