A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herrel family of Germany.
Reg. 1091 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au chev. de gu., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'or et en p. d'une fleur-de-lis du même; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un vautour ess. au nat., posé sur un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes du 1. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1617
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Herrel arms are recorded
The Herrel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1617.
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.
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
1612–1619
Reigning in Germany when the Herrel 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 Herrel Family in Germany
The surname Herrel finds its deepest historical roots in the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1617. The name is believed to have originated as a diminutive form of the Germanic given name Hariwald, which translates to ruler of the army. During the seventeenth century, families like the Herrels were often tied to the land through agricultural labor or artisanal trades in the growing village communities of the Holy Roman Empire. Life for these early ancestors was defined by the strict social structures of the time, where they lived as subjects under local lords or within the jurisdiction of the church. As the name spread through the Bavarian countryside, it evolved in spelling based on local dialects and the way scribes recorded names in parish registers. This transition from a personal name to a permanent family identifier reflects the broader shift in European society toward tracking lineages for legal and tax purposes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hari
An ancient Germanic term referring to a warrior or army.
This name
HerrelA diminutive or descriptive term for a small warrior or soldier.
also spelled
Herell
Herle
Herelle
Herrel
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
