A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herder family of Germany.
Reg. 7675 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un berger de profil, hab. d'une veste, d'un haut-de-chausses et coiffé d'un chapeau, le tout au nat., tenant de sa main sen. étendue une houlette; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le berger, iss., entre un vol, coupé alt. de gu. et d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu. T.: deux ouvriers-mineurs en habit de fête [Armes du célèbre auteur et poète, J. G. von Herder.]”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1801
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Map of Germany showing where the Herder arms are recorded
The Herder arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1801.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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 Herder 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Herder Family in Germany
The surname Herder is an occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word *herte*, which refers to a herdsman or a shepherd who tended to livestock. During the medieval period, many families adopted their surnames based on the trade they practiced to support their communities. By the time the family was firmly established in Saxony in 1801, the name had long been associated with rural life and the management of agricultural lands. Because herding was a vital profession in the rolling landscapes of Saxony, families carrying this name were often deeply integrated into the local agrarian economy. Over many generations, the name transitioned from a simple job description into a permanent family identifier that was passed down from parents to their children.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
herto
An old Germanic term referring to a guardian or protector.
This name
HerderAn occupational surname for a shepherd or a tender of livestock.
also spelled
Herder
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1801
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
