Map of France showing where the Hirschy arms are recorded
The Hirschy arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Hirschy 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 Hirschy Family in France
The family name Hirschy carries a deep history that connects to the cultural shifts of seventeenth-century France. While the name is often associated with Germanic roots, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Bretagne region as early as 1663. During this period, France was experiencing significant social changes under the reign of Louis XIV, and families often migrated to find new opportunities in trade or agriculture. The presence of the Hirschy name in Bretagne suggests that these early ancestors were likely part of a mobile population that integrated into the local French society while maintaining their distinct family identity. By settling in this coastal province, the family became part of the complex tapestry of regional life, contributing to the local community long before the name spread further across Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Palé de quatre pièces: d'arg., de gu., d'or et de sa.; à un cerf ramp. au nat., br. sur le palé, soutenu d'un tertre de sin. et tenant entre ses dents une navette au nat. C.: le cerf iss. (moins la navette). L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1686
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 Hirschy arms are recorded
The Hirschy arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1686.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in France when the Hirschy 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Hirschy Family in Germany
The surname Hirschy traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it emerged as a descriptive name rooted in the Middle High German word for a stag or deer. By the late seventeenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the Bavarian region. During this era, Bavaria was a landscape defined by small agricultural communities and a rigid social structure following the devastation of the Thirty Years' War. Families like the Hirschys were often tied to the land, living in rural villages where their surname likely served as a nickname for someone who possessed the grace or agility of a deer, or perhaps someone who lived near a forest frequented by such animals. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Bavarian life, contributing to the agricultural and artisan traditions that characterized the region during the late 1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hirsch
Germanic word for a male deer or stag.
This name
HirschyA topographic or occupational name referring to someone who lived near a deer habitat or hunted them.
also spelled
Hirscher
Hirsche
Hyrsch
Hirsh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux, 1663
Muller, Joseph, Les noms de famille en France: Origines et migrations, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
