A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harten family of Germany.
Reg. 9648 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux flèches d'or, passées en saut., et un coeur de gu., br. sur le point d'intersection. Cq. cour. C.: les meubles de l'écu, entre un vol d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyOldenbourg, c. 1765
Where the Harten Arms Were Recorded
Oldenbourg
Map of Germany showing where the Harten arms are recorded
The Harten arms were recorded in Oldenbourg, c. 1765.
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 Harten 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 Harten Family in Germany
The Harten family name has deep roots in the northern German region of Oldenburg, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a topographic identifier, as the word "hart" in Middle Low German often referred to a wooded area or a piece of common land. Families during this period were frequently identified by the specific landscape features near their homes or by their connection to local forests. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Harten family had established themselves within the social and agricultural fabric of the Oldenburg countryside. As the region transitioned through various political changes, these early ancestors maintained their presence in the local community, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who were essential to the rural economy of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
A Germanic term meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
HartenRefers to a person of courageous or resilient character, often associated with a strong-willed individual.
also spelled
Hartin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv (Oldenburg), Kirchenbuch der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinde Oldenburg
Schiller, Karl and Lübben, August, Mittelniederdeutsches Wörterbuch, 1875
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
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
