A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harrer family of Germany.
Reg. 6887 · 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 Harrer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Harrer arms are recorded
The Harrer 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 Harrer 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 Harrer Family in Germany
The surname Harrer is a traditional occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "har," which refers to a person who worked with flax or hemp. In the early centuries, this likely described someone who was a flax dresser or a maker of linen goods. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become well-established among the rural and artisan populations of the region. These early ancestors were typically part of the agrarian society that defined the Bavarian landscape, often living in small village communities where their trade provided essential materials for local clothing and household needs. As the family grew, they remained deeply connected to the social and economic structures of southern Germany, where the name continued to be passed down through generations of farmers and craftsmen.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Har
Old High German term for a mountain or a rocky height.
This name
HarrerAn occupational surname for someone who lived on or near a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Harer
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
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
