A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herold family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6603 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à la demi-aigle de sa., bq. et m. d'or, mouv du parti: au 2 d'or à un héraut en costume officiel d'arg., bordé d'or, rebr. de gu., coiffé d'un chapeau de sa., panaché de trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu., la poitrine ch. d'une aigle ép. de sa., surmontée de la couronne impériale, ledit héraut tenant une verge sommée d'une aigle pareille et posé sur une terrasse de sin. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le héraut, iss., entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1720
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Map of Germany showing where the Herold arms are recorded
The Herold arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1720.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Herold 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Herold Family in Germany
The family name Herold traces its roots to the Germanic regions, where it functioned as a descriptive name rooted in the Old High German word *heri*, meaning army, and *waltan*, meaning to rule. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the Herold family were firmly established in the Bavarian region. During this era, Bavaria was a collection of territories heavily influenced by agricultural traditions and local craftsmanship. Families like the Herolds often lived in rural villages or small towns where their name reflected a legacy of leadership or military service passed down through generations. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Holy Roman Empire, contributing to the local communities through trade and farming. This period in Bavaria was marked by a strong sense of regional identity, and the Herold name became a permanent fixture in the local parish registers and tax records that documented the lives of common citizens.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 un pal parti de gu. et d'arg., soutenu d'une fasce coupée de gu. sur arg., acc. en p. d'un éléphant au nat., la trompe abaissée, recouvert d'une housse, ch. de l'inscription (sur trois lignes): ALIT HONOS HEROEN.”
Austriac. 1559
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Map of Austria showing where the Herold arms are recorded
The Herold arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1559.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1559
Granting Authority for the Herold Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
1556–1564
Reigning in Germany when the Herold arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
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.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Herold Family in Austria
The family name Herold has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established as early as 1559. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic structures of the Alpine region, often appearing in local administrative and land records. The name itself is derived from ancient Germanic roots that relate to the concept of an army leader or a messenger, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have held positions of local authority or served as important intermediaries in their communities. As the family grew, they became integrated into the fabric of Tyrolean life, participating in the agricultural and trade networks that defined the area during the sixteenth century. By settling in this rugged territory, the Herold family helped shape the local history of the region, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the resilience and organization of early Austrian society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hariwald
Army ruler or commander of the host.
This name
HeroldDerived from Germanic elements meaning army and rule, signifying a leader or herald.
also spelled
Herolt
Harold
Related arms
Heroltvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1882
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
