A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hirschfeld family of Germany.
Reg. 1866 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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: au 1 de gu. à un membre d'aigle de sa., en pal, mouv. de la p., la serre en haut empoignant sept fers de flèche du sec., le tout surm. d'une couronne d'or; au 2 d'or à un lévrier ramp. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: une ramure de cerf, de gu. et d'or. L.: d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1714
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Map of Germany showing where the Hirschfeld arms are recorded
The Hirschfeld arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1714.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Hirschfeld 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 Hirschfeld Family in Germany
The surname Hirschfeld is a German topographic name that translates literally to deer field. It was common for families in the German-speaking regions of Europe to adopt names based on the landscape or local geography where they lived. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the Hirschfeld family were established in the Bavarian region. During this period, families often lived in small rural communities where their surname served as a practical way to identify their ancestral home or their connection to a specific plot of land. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Bavaria, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the modern era of standardized record-keeping. This name reflects a deep connection to the natural environment of southern Germany that has persisted for over three hundred years.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hirsch and Feld
Deer and open field or pasture.
This name
HirschfeldA topographic name for someone living near a field frequented by deer.
also spelled
Hirschfelder
Hirschfeldt
Hirshfeld
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
legStrength and swiftness
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
legStrength and swiftness
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
