A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harer family of Germany.
Reg. 1299 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg.; au pal br., coupé d'arg. sur sa., au lion coupé, au nat. sur l'arg., et d'arg. sur le sa. Cq. cour. C.: six pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg., d'or, d'or, d'arg. et de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Harer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Harer arms are recorded
The Harer 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 Harer 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 Harer Family in Germany
The surname Harer is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the middle of the 18th century, families bearing this name were well-established members of the local community. The name is generally classified as an occupational or topographical surname, likely derived from Middle High German terms related to those who worked in forestry or lived near sandy, barren soil. In the context of 1765 Bavaria, individuals with this name were often integrated into the agrarian and craft-based economy that defined the rural villages of the Holy Roman Empire. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant social transition, where family identities were increasingly tied to specific parish records and local landholdings. Through these church registers and tax assessments, we can trace the Harer family as they navigated the complexities of life in the Bavarian countryside during the late Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Har
Old High German term for a warrior or army.
This name
HarerAn occupational or descriptive name for a soldier or a member of an army.
also spelled
Harer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
