A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Himes family of Germany.
Reg. 3945 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à un cep de vigne, accolé à une verge, et soutenu d'une terrasse isolée, le tout au nat.; au 2 de sa. à un senestrochère, paré de sin., rebr. d'or, la main de carn. empoignant un sabre d'arg., garni d'or. L'écu bordé d'or. C.: le senestrochère, posé sur le coude. L.: d'arg. et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1770
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 Himes arms are recorded
The Himes arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1770.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Himes 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 Himes Family in Germany
The family name Himes likely originated as a descriptive surname in the German-speaking regions of Europe. During the eighteenth century, the name was closely tied to the mountainous terrain of Bavaria, where families often adopted names based on their specific trade or their location within the landscape. By 1770, records indicate that members of the Himes family were well-established in these southern German territories. Life in Bavaria during this period was defined by agricultural traditions and local village governance. As the population grew, many individuals with this name began to migrate toward larger urban centers or eventually toward the Americas in search of new opportunities. This movement helped transition the name from a localized regional identifier into a broader family lineage that spread across international borders over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heim
A home, house, or settlement.
This name
HimesA patronymic or locative surname referring to someone from a home or settlement.
also spelled
Heimss
Heyms
Heimz
Himes
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