A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haver family of Germany.
Reg. 2470 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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)
“De gu. à la croix d'or. C.: un chien assis de sa., soutenu d'un chapeau de tournoi du même, retr. d'arg.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1609
Where the Haver Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Haver arms are recorded
The Haver arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1609.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Haver 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Haver Family in Germany
The surname Haver originates from the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1609. The name is rooted in the Middle Low German word havere, which translates to oats. In the medieval period, it was common for families to adopt surnames based on their occupation or the crops they cultivated. It is highly likely that the early members of the Haver family were farmers or merchants who specialized in the production or trade of oats. This agricultural connection suggests that the family was deeply tied to the fertile landscape of the Westphalian plains. Over the centuries, the name remained concentrated in this area, reflecting a stable history of rural life and local community involvement before the family eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hafer
A Middle High German term for the cereal grain oats.
This name
HaverAn occupational name for a grower, dealer, or merchant of oats.
also spelled
Havere
Related arms
van Havrevariant 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
Gottschald, Max. Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen. 1954
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen. Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Region
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
