A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hehr family of Austria.
Reg. 3761 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur arg.; à un geai au nat., br. sur le tout, le vol levé, posé sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un oiseau au nat., le vol plié; entre un vol, coupé alt. de gu. et d'arg.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Hehr Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Hehr arms are recorded
The Hehr 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 Hehr 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 Austria when the Hehr 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 Hehr Family in Austria
The family name Hehr is deeply rooted in the mountainous landscape of the Tyrol region, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1772. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a variation of older German terms related to military service or high-ranking positions. During the eighteenth century, families in this area often lived in small, isolated alpine communities where they relied on agriculture, forestry, and trade along the mountain passes. Because Tyrol served as a vital crossroads between northern Europe and the Italian peninsula, the Hehr family would have been part of a vibrant culture shaped by constant movement and regional commerce. Over time, the name became established within these local parishes, where church records and tax documents helped track the family’s growth and movement across the rugged terrain of the Austrian Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haro
A Germanic root meaning army or warrior.
This name
HehrDerived from a nickname for a soldier or a person with a warlike temperament.
also spelled
Heherer
Hehher
Hehr
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
