Richard: I understand that there are a few (about 150) "Heckendorn's" in Switzerland with the name originating in the Langenbruck and Waldenburg regions, both in Canton Basel-Landschaft. I also have a listing of 23 in Germany. You speak of the etymology of the name; I was always told as a youngster, that it meant thorn bush or wild rose bush, e.g. hedge thorn. Here's some information I located; "Heckendorn is a name of German origin and is composed of two words, "hecken", i.e. a hedge and "dorn", a thorn. In German, a wild rose is called a hedgethorne." There was a "Heckendorn Furniture Co." located we believe, in Switzerland in the mid 1960's, that had a "Heckendorn Family Crest" displayed in their front entrance of the business. This "family crest" was in pewter, non-coloured, and appears to be a shield with two bars on it. Then there is what would appear to be thorn bush branches with some leaves and flowers at the ends of the branches. Now I understand that there is a manufacturer of kitchen cupboards in Basel; here's the address: Heckendorn & Co., Kuchen AG, Zeyko-Einbaukuchen, Rosentalstrasse 24, 4058 Basel (BS), Switzerland. I'd love to locate an email address or web-site on them to contact them and find out if they are familiar with this "Family Crest", if anyone knows how to go about it. Oh yes! I received a comment from a "DSHUNZIKER" Who said their grandmother was a Heckt. Howard.