A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Härtl family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9079 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à deux lions affr. d'or; au 2 parti de sa. et d'arg., au chev. de l'un en l'autre. C.: un lion iss. d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Härtl Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Härtl arms are recorded
The Härtl arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Härtl 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Härtl Family in Germany
The surname Härtl is a classic example of a Bavarian occupational or descriptive name that evolved during the late Middle Ages. It is a diminutive form of the Middle High German word "hart," which originally referred to a person who was physically strong or firm in character. As surnames became permanent fixtures in German society, this name became common among the hardworking agricultural communities of Upper and Lower Bavaria. By the time official records confirm the presence of the Härtl family in 1765, the name was already deeply rooted in the rural landscape of the region. Families with this name were typically involved in farming or skilled craftsmanship, living in small village clusters where they contributed to the local economy for generations. Because the name was tied to a common personality trait, it appeared independently in several different areas, creating a history that is closely linked to the development of village life and local parish administration in southern Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un homme barbu de carn., iss. d'une cuve d'or, le tout devant un annelet d'or et soutenu d'un tertre de sin.; ledit homme tenant deux avirons d'or, passés en saut. devant son corps. Cq. cour. C.: un Hercule au nat., brandissant une massue, et assis à califourchon sur une hydre au nat. L. d'or et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Härtl Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Härtl arms are recorded
The Härtl arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Härtl Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Härtl arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Härtl Family in Austria
The family name Härtl is a German surname that evolved as a diminutive form of the name Hart, which originally described a person who was strong, hardy, or firm in character. By the late eighteenth century, the name was well-established within the rugged landscape of the Austrian Tyrol. Records confirm that members of the Härtl family were living in this mountainous region by 1772, likely working as farmers or skilled tradespeople in the isolated alpine valleys. During this era, life in Tyrol was shaped by the harsh climate and the strict social structures of the Habsburg Empire. Families like the Härtls often remained in the same village for generations, passing down their trade and their name through local parish registers. Because the region was a crossroads for trade between Italy and the German lands, the Härtl family became part of a resilient community that helped define the cultural identity of western Austria.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
Germanic root meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
HärtlA diminutive form referring to a person who is brave or strong.
also spelled
Hartel
Related arms
Härtelvariant 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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
