Many finds from prehistory and early historical times confirm that Heidesheim am Rhein's municipal area was settled as early as the New Stone Age (5500 to 2200 BC). Most have been chance finds. In Roman times, north of today's community core, stood an extensive "villa rustica", which was forsaken after the Germanic invasions in the early 5th century. Within its walls was built Saint George's Chapel ("Sankt Georgskapelle"), around which, after the mid 7th century, Frankish settlers came to live. The municipality's name is said to go back to an estate owned by a Frankish nobleman called Heisino.