A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harben family of Germany.
Reg. 5535 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., cour. d'or, mouv. du parti; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à une panthère ramp. d'arg., vomissante des flammes, celle du 3 cont. Cq. cour. C.: la panthère du 2, entre un vol coupé, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Harben Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Harben arms are recorded
The Harben 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 Harben 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 Harben Family in Germany
The family name Harben finds its historical roots in the region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a collection of territories governed by the Wittelsbach dynasty, and families living there were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trade guilds. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to Southern Germany, where surnames were frequently derived from a person’s occupation, a specific geographic feature, or a descriptive nickname. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the complex political shifts that defined the Holy Roman Empire during that era. By the late 1700s, the Harben family was well-positioned within the local community, contributing to the economic and cultural life of their Bavarian home before many later generations eventually migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hariberaht
Derived from Old High German words for army and bright or famous.
This name
HarbenA surname indicating a descendant of a person known for their illustrious military reputation.
also spelled
Harbin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fireZeal and purification
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fireZeal and purification
