A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hayer family of Austria.
Reg. 6786 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à un genêt (cheval) iss. d'arg., mouv. d'un tertre de trois coupeaux d'or et acc. en chef de deux étoiles du même. Brl. d'azur et d'or. C.: une tête et col de genêt d'arg., entre deux prob. d'or. L.: d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1533
Where the Hayer Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Hayer arms are recorded
The Hayer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1533.
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
1533
Granting Authority for the Hayer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Austria when the Hayer 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 Hayer Family in Austria
The family name Hayer has deep roots in the Alpine region of Tyrol, where members of the family were officially recorded as early as 1533. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rugged landscape and the agricultural traditions of the mountain valleys. Families with this name often worked as skilled farmers or craftsmen, contributing to the local economy of the Holy Roman Empire. As the name spread from its Tyrolean origins, it evolved through various regional dialects, reflecting the movement of people across the borders of modern-day Austria, Germany, and Italy. Throughout the sixteenth century, the Hayer family established themselves as stable members of their local communities, leaving behind a legacy that is still preserved in regional tax rolls and parish registers from that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hag
An enclosed area, hedge, or fenced piece of land.
This name
HayerRefers to a person who lived near a hedge or an enclosed field.
also spelled
Hayre
Heier
Hayr
Hyer
Related arms
Harevariant spelling
Hare de Stow-Bardolphvariant spelling
Hare de Stow-Hallvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
