Map of Germany showing where the Herz arms are recorded
The Herz arms were recorded in Munich, c. 1725.
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 Herz 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 Herz Family in Germany
The family name Herz is derived from the German word for heart, which was often used as a personal nickname or a term of endearment in medieval times. By the early 18th century, the name had become a well-established surname among families living in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Records confirm that members of the Herz family were settled in Munich by 1725, a period when the city was a thriving center of trade and culture under the rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the urban economy as merchants, artisans, or tradespeople. The presence of the family in Munich during this time suggests they were part of the growing middle class that helped shape the city’s development during the Baroque period. As the family established their roots, the name Herz became a permanent part of the local history, reflecting the common naming traditions of the time that focused on personal qualities or symbolic meanings.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
herto
A Germanic term referring to the vital organ of the body.
This name
HerzA topographic or habitational name for someone living in a house marked with a heart sign.
also spelled
Hertz
Related arms
Hertzvariant spelling
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
Stadtarchiv München, Bürgerrechts- und Zunftprotokolle, 1700–1750
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heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
