Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'or, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herbig family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'or, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or.”

The Herbig arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
The surname Herbig carries a history rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, eventually finding a home within the northern provinces of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the Herbig family were established in the province of Friesland. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing significant social changes following the end of the Napoleonic era and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Herbigs often moved across regional borders for work in agriculture or trade, blending into the local Frisian culture while maintaining their distinct family identity. As the Dutch government began to standardize civil registration and census records around 1811 and 1815, the presence of the Herbig name became formally documented in local archives. This era marked a transition where family names became permanently fixed in official state records, allowing us to trace their residence and community involvement in the northern Dutch landscape.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un griffon d'or, soutenu d'une colline de sin., tenant entre ses pattes une fleur-de-lis d'arg. et acc. en chef de deux étoiles du sec. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une fleur-de-lis d'arg., entre un vol de sa.; 2° une étoile d'or, entre deux prob. d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”

The Herbig arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1808.
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.
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.
The surname Herbig has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where the family established a presence by the early nineteenth century. The name is believed to originate from the Middle High German word *herberc*, which historically referred to a shelter, a lodging, or a place of refuge for travelers. In the rugged terrain of the Alps, families often adopted names that reflected their occupation or the specific location of their homesteads. By 1808, individuals bearing the Herbig name were integrated into the local Tyrolean society, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who provided essential services to those moving through the mountain passes. This connection to the concept of a shelter suggests that early ancestors may have managed inns or provided housing for merchants and pilgrims navigating the difficult alpine routes. Over time, the family became a part of the regional fabric, contributing to the agricultural and social development of their mountain communities.
Derived from Germanic elements meaning army and bright or famous.

