A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herda family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un buste d'homme de sa., ayant des oreilles d'âne (tête de Midas). C.: le buste.”
The Herda arms were recorded in Saxe-Weimar, c. 1765.
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.
Reigning in Germany when the Herda arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Herda is deeply connected to the historical region of Saxe-Weimar, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1765. The name is believed to have originated as a topographic or habitational identifier, likely derived from the Middle High German word "herd," which refers to a hearth, a fireplace, or a piece of communal grazing land. Families living near these central features of village life often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their local community. As the family grew, members likely worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the agricultural and social structure of the German states during the eighteenth century. This period was marked by significant shifts in land management and local governance, which often required families to maintain clear records of their residence and occupation within the duchy.
A Germanic element meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
