A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heider family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4805 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec. en saut.: au 1 d'arg. à deux chev. de gu.; au 2 de sa. à une étoile d'or; au 3 de sa. à un croiss. tourné d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. à un More iss. de sa., hab. du même, le rabat à guipures d'or, mouv. d'un tertre de sa., les bras levés, tenant de chaque main une touffe d'herbes. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique d'or, chaque aile ch. d'une barre de sa. L. d'or et de sa.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1795
Where the Heider Arms Were Recorded
Wurttemberg
Map of Germany showing where the Heider arms are recorded
The Heider arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1795.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Heider 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 Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Heider Family in Germany
The surname Heider finds its roots in the German language, where it is classified as a topographic name. It historically identified people who lived near a heath or an expanse of uncultivated, open land known as a "Heide." By the time the family was documented in the region of Württemberg in 1795, the name had already been established for generations across various German-speaking territories. Families with this name were typically part of the rural or middle-class population, often working as farmers or tradespeople who lived on the outskirts of villages. Because the name describes a specific type of landscape, it likely emerged independently in several different areas as people moved from smaller settlements into organized towns. This pattern of naming was very common in the eighteenth century, as it helped neighbors and local officials distinguish between families who shared similar occupations or lived in the same vicinity.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé d'or sur azur; à un arbre de quatre branches de sin., terrassé du même, br. sur le tout, acc. en chef entre les deux branches supérieures d'une aigle héraldique de couleur brunâtre. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° et 2° un vol à l'antique, l'aile de derrière d'azur et celle de devant d'or, le 1er cimier cont. L.: d'or et d'azur. D.: NEC TEMERE NEC TIMIDE.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Heider Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Heider arms are recorded
The Heider 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 Heider 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 Heider 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 Heider Family in Austria
The surname Heider finds its roots in the rugged landscape of the Austrian Alps, particularly within the province of Tyrol. The name is derived from the Middle High German word *heide*, which historically referred to a person who lived on a heath or an uncultivated stretch of open land. By the late 18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the Tyrolean region, where they likely worked as farmers or foresters in the high mountain valleys. Life in 1772 Tyrol was defined by the harsh climate and the isolation of alpine villages, which encouraged families to stay in one area for many generations. Because the region was part of the Habsburg Empire, these early ancestors were subject to strict local record-keeping practices, which helped solidify the name as a permanent fixture in the local community. Through these records, we can see that the Heider family was deeply connected to the land and the unique cultural traditions of the Austrian mountains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heide
A tract of uncultivated land or heath.
This name
HeiderA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a heath.
also spelled
Heyder
Heiderr
Heidr
Haider
Related arms
Haydervariant spelling
Heydervariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg, 1795
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
