Map of France showing where the Hire arms are recorded
The Hire 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 Hire 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 Hire Family in France
The history of the Hire family is deeply rooted in the borderlands between France and Germany, specifically within the region of Alsace. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family were established in the town of Bergzabern, which was then part of the complex political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire before its later integration into France. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic roots, reflecting the agricultural or occupational traditions common to families living in the Rhine valley during this era. Because Alsace served as a crossroads for trade and migration, the Hire family lived through a period of significant cultural exchange. Their presence in Bergzabern by 1663 suggests they were part of a resilient community that maintained its identity despite the frequent shifts in border control and the social pressures of the seventeenth century. This early history highlights a family that was well-integrated into the local life of the region, participating in the daily commerce and social structures that defined life in the border territories.
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 Hire arms are recorded
The Hire 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 Hire 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 Hire Family in Germany
The family name Hire traces its roots back to the historical region of Saxony, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1589. During this period, Saxony was a central hub of the Holy Roman Empire, characterized by a transition from medieval feudal structures to a more organized administrative state. The name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a localized surname tied to the specific geographic landscape or the professional activities of early ancestors living within the Saxon heartland. As the family established themselves in this region, they became part of a society deeply influenced by the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. By settling in Saxony, the early Hire family lived through a time of significant cultural development, which helped shape the identity and longevity of the name throughout the following centuries.
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 Hire arms are recorded
The Hire 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 Hire 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 Hire 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 Hire Family in Austria
The family name Hire traces its roots back to the mountainous region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1574. During this period, Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture within the Holy Roman Empire, placing the family in a landscape defined by rugged Alpine valleys and shifting political borders. The name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a localized occupational label common to the German-speaking populations of the Eastern Alps. Life for families in sixteenth-century Tyrol was deeply influenced by the local mining industry and the strict social hierarchies of the time. By settling in this region, the early Hire family became part of a resilient community that navigated the complex religious and economic changes of the late Renaissance. Their presence in these historical documents suggests that they were integrated into the local administrative and social fabric of the Austrian territories long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hira
A Germanic root meaning iron or strong.
This name
HireA locative surname referring to someone living near a thicket or a place of iron deposits.
also spelled
Heier
Heyr
Hayer
Hire
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Landesarchiv Speyer, Bestand H 1 (Bestandsverzeichnis der Akten der Stadt Bergzabern)
Debus, Karl Heinz. Historisches Gemeindeverzeichnis für das Land Rheinland-Pfalz: Ehemaliger Landkreis Bergzabern. 1988
Kohl, Wilhelm. Die Geschichte der Stadt Bergzabern. 1963
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
