A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herl family of Germany.
Reg. 9939 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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.: au 1 de sa. à deux pointes d'or; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à une tête et col de bélier d'or; au 4 de sa. à deux piles d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un bélier iss. d'or, entre deux prob. de sa., ch. chacune de deux fasces d'or. - Ec.: aux 1 et 4 fascé de sa. et d'or, de quatre pièces; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à un bélier sautant d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un bélier iss. d'or, entre deux prob. de sa., ch. chacune de deux fasces d'or.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Herl arms are recorded
The Herl arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Herl 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Herl Family in Germany
The family name Herl has deep roots in the Bavarian region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1765. The name likely originated as a diminutive form of the Germanic name Hermann, which means army man or warrior. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Bavaria were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local trades. As the population grew, families like the Herls became part of the social fabric of small rural villages, often appearing in local parish registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant regional change as Bavaria transitioned from a collection of smaller territories into a more unified state. By maintaining their presence in the region, the Herl family helped preserve the cultural traditions and linguistic patterns unique to southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hari
An ancient Germanic term referring to an army or a warrior.
This name
HerlA diminutive form derived from names like Hermann, signifying a soldier or army man.
also spelled
Horrl
Herl
Hoerl
Horle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
