A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herner family of Poland.
Reg. 7323 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à deux fasces haussées d'or; à un cor-de-chasse de gu., lié, eng. et vir. d'or, suspendu par son lien à la fasce inférieure. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, d'azur et de gu. L. d'azur et de gu.”
CourlandCourland, c. 1368
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Map of Poland showing where the Herner arms are recorded
The Herner arms were recorded in Courland, c. 1368.
Courland was Baltic coast country held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations and served as officers abroad, and both landholding and service brought arms with them.
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.
Region
Courland
First recorded
1368
Granting Authority for the Herner Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Casimir III the Great
Sovereign of the period
Casimir III the Great
1333–1370
Reigning in Poland when the Herner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Courland.
Origin & History of the Herner Family in Poland
The name Herner traces its roots back to the Baltic region, where members of the family were firmly established in the territory of Courland by the year 1368. During this period, Courland was a complex frontier shaped by the influence of the Teutonic Order and the shifting power dynamics between local Baltic tribes and German settlers. Families like the Herners often served as landowners or administrators within these feudal structures, helping to manage the agricultural and political life of the region. As the name evolved over the centuries, it became linked to the unique cultural landscape of the eastern Baltic coast. This area served as a crossroads for trade and migration, which allowed the family to maintain a consistent presence through generations of social and political change. By tracking the family to this specific time and place, we gain a glimpse into the lives of early settlers who helped build the foundations of society in what is now modern-day Latvia.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Harn
Old High German term referring to a warrior or armed man.
This name
HernerA topographic or occupational name denoting someone who lived near or worked in a horn-shaped valley.
also spelled
Horner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arbusow, Leonid, Grundriss der Geschichte Liv-, Est- und Kurlands, 1918
Latvian State Historical Archives, Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs, Fond 4038 (Collection of documents regarding the Livonian Order)
Mettig, Constantin, Geschichte der Stadt Riga, 1897
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
