A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hirzel family of Germany.
Reg. 3528 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
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 un cerf au nat., couché sous une tente d'arg.; le tout soutenu d'une champagne d'arg. C.: un cerf iss. au nat.; entre deux prob., d'azur et d'arg.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Hirzel arms are recorded
The Hirzel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Hirzel 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 Hirzel Family in Germany
The family name Hirzel has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records placing members of the family in Bavaria by the year 1765. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word hirz, which translates to stag or hart. In early medieval times, such names were often descriptive nicknames given to individuals who displayed traits associated with the animal, such as speed, grace, or a connection to the local forests. As the family established itself in southern Germany, they were likely involved in agricultural or trade activities common to the Bavarian landscape of the eighteenth century. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their identity as they moved through different regions and contributed to the local communities of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hirz
A Middle High German term for a stag or male deer.
This name
HirzelA topographic or habitational name for someone living near a place frequented by stags.
also spelled
Hirzelen
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
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
