A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erhard family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2164 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à un cerf ramp. au nat.; au 2 de sa. à trois fasces d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: le cerf, iss. L. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Erhard Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Erhard arms are recorded
The Erhard arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Erhard 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Erhard Family in Germany
The surname Erhard traces its roots back to the Old High German name Erhard, which is composed of the elements "era," meaning honor, and "hard," meaning brave or hardy. This name became popular across German-speaking lands during the Middle Ages, largely due to the influence of Saint Erhard of Regensburg, a seventh-century missionary who served as a bishop in Bavaria. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had long been established as a patronymic, meaning it was passed down from a father to his children to signify their lineage. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local agricultural or artisan communities of the region. Because the name was tied to a respected religious figure, it carried a sense of traditional virtue and strength that helped it persist through centuries of social and political change in southern Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 recoupé, d'azur sur un échiqueté de gu. et d'arg. de trois tires; au 2 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, 2 et 1, acc. en chef d'une rose d'arg.”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
Where the Erhard Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Erhard arms are recorded
The Erhard arms were recorded in Fribourg, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Erhard Family in Switzerland
The surname Erhard finds its roots in the ancient Germanic name Erhard, which combines the words for honor and hardy or strong. While the name appeared across various German-speaking regions, the branch of the family established in the Swiss canton of Fribourg by 1745 reflects the movement of families during a period of significant social and economic change in the Swiss Confederation. In Fribourg, a city known for its unique position between the French and German linguistic borders, the Erhard family integrated into a society defined by strict guild structures and local citizenship laws. During the mid-eighteenth century, families like the Erhards often served as skilled tradespeople or laborers who helped sustain the city’s growing urban economy. Their presence in the official records of Fribourg during this era suggests they were part of a stable community that valued local residency and documented lineage as a means of securing rights within the city walls.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ere-hardu
Derived from Germanic elements meaning honor or respect and brave or hardy.
This name
ErhardA name signifying someone who possesses both honorable character and great strength or courage.
also spelled
Erhart
Erhardt
Related arms
Erhartvariant spelling
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
