A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herzberg family of Germany.
Reg. 3978 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 coupé: a. de gu. au lion naiss. et cont. d'or, mouv. du coupé; b. de sa. à deux épis d'or, passés en saut.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un coeur de gu., percé d'une flèche d'or en bande. Sur le tout un écusson d'or, cour. du même, ch. d'une aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. du champ, soutenue d'un tertre de sin. C.: 1° le lion du 1, entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur sa., à sen. d'arg. sur gu.; 1. d'or et de sa.; 2° aigle; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyNassau, c. 1649
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Map of Germany showing where the Herzberg arms are recorded
The Herzberg arms were recorded in Nassau, c. 1649.
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.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Germany when the Herzberg 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 Herzberg Family in Germany
The name Herzberg is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific geographic location. In German, the name combines the words for heart and mountain, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a hill or peak known by that name. By 1649, records confirm that members of the Herzberg family were established in the region of Nassau. During this period, families often took their names from the landscapes they inhabited or the estates they managed. As these individuals moved through the German states, the name became a permanent marker of their family identity. This transition from a simple description of a place to a formal family name reflects the way many central European surnames were solidified during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herz and Berg
Heart and mountain or hill
This name
HerzbergA topographic name for someone living on a mountain or hill associated with a heart-shaped feature.
also spelled
Hertzberg
Related arms
Hersbergvariant spelling
Hertzbergvariant 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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Bestand 171: Nassauische Ämter, 1649
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
