A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herter family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé de gu. sur arg. C.: deux prob., coupées alt. de gu. et d'arg.”
The Herter arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Reigning in Germany when the Herter arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Herter finds its historical roots in the region of Swabia, a historic area in southwestern Germany known for its distinct dialect and long-standing agricultural traditions. The name is occupational in origin, likely derived from the Middle High German word "herte," which referred to a shepherd or a herdsman who tended to livestock. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established members of the Swabian community. During this era, life in Swabia was defined by small village structures and a strong connection to the land. As herdsmen, early members of the Herter family played a vital role in the rural economy by managing the grazing of cattle and sheep on communal pastures. This steady way of life allowed the family to put down deep roots in the region, eventually spreading across the local parishes as they contributed to the growth of their towns and villages.
Germanic root meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
