A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herr family of Germany.
Reg. 6574 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux faucilles adossées d'or, emm. d'arg., le tranchant dentelé; l'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un vol d'azur, chaque aile ch. d'une faucille de l'écu, celle à sen. cont.”
Germanyc. 1787
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Map of Germany showing where the Herr arms are recorded
The Herr arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1787.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Herr 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 Herr Family in Germany
The family name Herr is rooted in the German language, where the word originally served as a title of respect for a man of status or authority. By the late 18th century, the name was firmly established in the region of Bavaria, where family members were documented as active participants in their local communities by 1787. During this era, many individuals with the surname Herr worked as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople within the complex social structure of the Holy Roman Empire. Because the name functioned as both a descriptive term for a person of rank and a common surname, it reflects the transition of medieval titles into permanent family identifiers. These early ancestors in Bavaria lived through a period of significant agricultural and political change, which shaped the way families like the Herrs settled into their specific villages and maintained their local heritage over many generations.
Herr Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Herro
Old High German word meaning master, lord, or gentleman.
This name
HerrAn occupational or status-based surname originally denoting a master, lord, or someone of high social standing.
also spelled
Her
Hair
Hare
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
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
