Map of Switzerland showing where the Her arms are recorded
The Her arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Her Family in Switzerland
The family name Her has deep roots in the region of Bern, Switzerland, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Her line were often integrated into the local craft guilds or agricultural communities that sustained the Swiss economy. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer Germanic name, reflecting the common naming customs of the eighteenth century where surnames were often tied to a person's trade, location, or a specific personal trait. As residents of the Swiss Canton of Bern, these early family members lived through a time of significant political stability and economic growth, which allowed them to maintain their presence in the region for generations. By documenting their lives through local parish registers and civil records, the Her family became part of the enduring historical fabric of the Bernese Highlands and the surrounding urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herr
A German term denoting a master, lord, or gentleman.
This name
HerAn occupational or status-based surname referring to a master or a person of high social standing.
also spelled
Hohr
Her
Hoer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher (Parish Registers)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Burgerrodel (Citizenship Records)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts, 1980
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
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ramLeadership and authority
ramLeadership and authority
