A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herschbach family of Germany.
Reg. 1474 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un cerf de gu., pass. dans une eau au nat. Cq. cour. C.: le cerf, iss., mouv. d'un panache de trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Herschbach arms are recorded
The Herschbach arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Herschbach 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 Herschbach Family in Germany
The surname Herschbach is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts: "Hersch," which is a regional variation of the word for stag or deer, and "Bach," which means a small stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a stream frequented by deer. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Bavarian region. During this period, life in Bavaria was defined by agricultural work and local village governance. Families with this name were often part of the rural population that contributed to the development of the Bavarian landscape. As the family grew, they maintained their connection to the land and the specific geographic features that gave them their name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hirsch and Bach
Deer and brook or stream
This name
HerschbachA topographic name for someone living near a stream frequented by deer.
also spelled
Hirschbacher
Hirshbach
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv. Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen. 1765
Gottschald, Max. Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung. 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
