A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Härtel family of Germany.
Reg. 6867 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'azur à deux trèfles d'arg., les deux tiges allongées passées en saut., et un fer de flèche d'arg., posé sur le point d'intersection; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un palmier de sin., posé sur un rocher revêtu de mousse. Cq. cour. C.: un jeune homme iss., hab. d'azur, bout. d'or, tenant de sa main dextre une palme de sin.; entre un vol de sa. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1742
Where the Härtel Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Härtel arms are recorded
The Härtel arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1742.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Härtel 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Härtel Family in Germany
The surname Härtel is a German occupational and descriptive name that emerged from the linguistic roots of the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "hart," which means strong, firm, or hardy. Over time, the suffix "el" was added as a diminutive, often used to describe a person who possessed these sturdy qualities or perhaps to distinguish a younger member of a family. By the mid-18th century, the name was firmly established in the region of Saxony, where families with this surname were integrated into the local agricultural and artisanal communities. Life in Saxony during the 1740s was defined by strict social structures and parish record-keeping, which helped preserve the Härtel name as families settled into specific villages and towns. These early ancestors were likely craftsmen or farmers who played a vital role in the regional economy, passing their name down through generations as they navigated the historical shifts of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hart
Old High German word meaning strong, firm, or hardy.
This name
HärtelA diminutive form indicating a person who is strong, brave, or resilient.
also spelled
Hartl
Hartell
Related arms
Härtlvariant 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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1742
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
