Map of France showing where the Heyer arms are recorded
The Heyer arms were recorded in Bergzabern Alsace, c. 1663.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Heyer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Heyer Family in France
The history of the Heyer family in the region of Alsace is deeply tied to the complex cultural shifts of the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that family members were established in the town of Bergzabern, which sits in a border area that frequently moved between French and German political control. During this period, Alsace was undergoing a transition as it became part of the Kingdom of France under King Louis XIV. The Heyer family lived through a time of significant change, as the local population adapted to new administrative laws and the influence of the French crown. Because Bergzabern was located along a major trade route, the family likely participated in the local economy of the Rhine valley, which served as a bridge between different European cultures. Their presence in the region during this era reflects the broader story of families who maintained their roots while navigating the evolving borders of early modern Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la barre d'arg., acc. de deux tours du même. C.: un lion iss. d'azur, supp. de ses pattes une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1589
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Map of Germany showing where the Heyer arms are recorded
The Heyer arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1589.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in France when the Heyer 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Heyer Family in Germany
The surname Heyer is rooted in the linguistic landscape of medieval Germany, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word *heier*, which referred to a person who worked with hay or served as a caretaker of meadows. By the time the name appears in the historical record in Saxony in 1589, it had already become a stable family identifier passed down through generations. Families bearing this name were typically part of the rural or agrarian middle class, living in the fertile regions of central Germany where agriculture was the primary way of life. As the name spread across the German states, it evolved slightly in spelling depending on the local dialect, but it consistently maintained its connection to the hardworking people who managed the land and livestock of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu.; à un ouvrier-mineur, hab. de l'un en l'autre, les jambes écartées, la tête coiffée d'un bonnet de sa., supp. de sa main dextre levée un caillou et tenant de sa sen., appuvée sur sa hanche, un hoyau de sa., emm. d'or. C.: l'homme de l'écu; entre deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1574
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Map of Austria showing where the Heyer arms are recorded
The Heyer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1574.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1574
Granting Authority for the Heyer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
1564–1576
Reigning in France when the Heyer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Heyer Family in Austria
The family name Heyer has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1574. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rugged lifestyle of the Alpine region. Families like the Heyers often worked as skilled tradespeople or farmers who managed the challenging terrain of western Austria. The name itself likely evolved from older Germanic terms related to the occupation of a hay merchant or a person who lived near a meadow. As the family established themselves in the local community, they became part of the social fabric of Tyrol during a time of significant religious and political change in the Holy Roman Empire. By maintaining their presence in these high-altitude valleys, the early Heyer family helped shape the local culture and economy of the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heger
A person who works with hedges or lives near a hedge.
This name
HeyerAn occupational surname for a hedge-maker or a topographic name for a dweller near a hedge.
also spelled
Heier
Heyr
Hayer
Hire
Related arms
Lüdeckesame arms
Pellecom (van) et van Pellecom de Kortenhofsimilar arms
Ewaldrecorded with Heyer, same area
Hoyerrecorded with Heyer, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Série E - Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Book: Dollinger, Philippe, Histoire de l'Alsace, 1970
Book: Vogler, Bernard, Histoire de l'Alsace, 2009
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
axeThe execution of military duty
