A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hiller family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4251 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fireZeal and purification
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
handFaith, sincerity and justice
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“tranché d'azur sur sa., à la bande d'or, br. sur le tranché et ch. d'un brandon de sa., allumé en six endroits au nat. Enté en p. d'arg. à deux prob. d'azur, ornées chacune à l'ext. de trois mains appaumées de carn. Sur le tout un écusson d'or, cour. du même et ch. d'une aigle ép. de sa., diadémée d'or, surm. d'une couronne impériale. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° le brandon, posé en pal, entre les deux prob. de l'écu; 2° l'aigle ép., surm. de la couronne impériale; 3° l'homme d'armes du 4, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Hiller arms are recorded
The Hiller 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 Hiller 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 Hiller Family in Germany
The surname Hiller has deep roots in the southern regions of Germany, particularly within the state of Bavaria. Historically, the name is classified as a topographic or occupational surname. It likely originated from the Middle High German word "hil," which referred to a person who lived on a hill or a slope. In other instances, it may have been a descriptive name for someone who worked as a hill farmer or managed land on elevated terrain. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in Bavarian village life. These early ancestors were typically part of the agrarian class, deeply connected to the local landscape and the rhythms of rural society. Their presence in 1765 reflects a time when families often remained in the same parish for generations, building their lives around the local church and the surrounding farmland.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 un chevreuil ramp. au nat., soutenu d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: le chevreuil, iss. L.: d'or et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Hiller arms are recorded
The Hiller arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Hiller Family in Switzerland
The family name Hiller has deep roots in the Swiss region of Bern, where records confirm their presence as early as the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "hil," which refers to a hill or a steep slope, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who lived on elevated terrain. During the 1700s, families in the Bernese countryside were often identified by the specific geographical features of the land they cultivated. By 1745, the Hiller family had established themselves within the local community, participating in the agricultural and social life of the canton. This period was a time of steady growth for families in the region, as they navigated the complex political landscape of the Old Swiss Confederacy. Through their work on the land and their integration into local parish life, the Hillers became a stable part of the Bernese population, contributing to the development of their local villages for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hilaris
Latin term meaning cheerful, merry, or happy.
This name
HillerA topographic name for someone living on a hill or a derivative of the name Hilary.
also spelled
Hilleren
Hillerin
Hillerus
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fireZeal and purification
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
handFaith, sincerity and justice
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fireZeal and purification
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
handFaith, sincerity and justice
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
