A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sherer family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 6631 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 tilleul de sin., terrassé du même; au 2 d'azur plein. Cq. cour. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., brandissant une épée. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Sherer arms are recorded
The Sherer arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1765.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Sherer 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Sherer Family in Germany
The surname Sherer is rooted in the occupational history of medieval Germany, where it functioned as a descriptive name for a person who worked as a shearer or a cutter. This title was often given to individuals who trimmed wool, worked as tailors, or operated as barbers who performed minor surgical procedures. By the time members of the family were documented in the Mecklenburg region in 1765, the name had become a well-established identifier for families integrated into the local agricultural and artisanal economy. During this period, Mecklenburg was a landscape defined by strict social structures and manorial estates, meaning that families like the Sherers were likely tied to the land or specific trade guilds. The presence of the name in parish registers from the eighteenth century suggests that these ancestors were part of a stable, settled population that contributed to the development of northern German village life.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“Ec. en saut.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois roses de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin., posées sur un tertre du même; au 2 de sa. au lion cont. d'or; au 3 d'or au lion de sa. Cq. cour. C.: un lion ramp. d'or, tenant de ses pattes les roses du 1. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Sherer arms are recorded
The Sherer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
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
1772
Granting Authority for the Sherer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Sherer 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 Sherer Family in Austria
The family name Sherer is deeply rooted in the alpine landscape of the Tyrol region, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1772. The name itself is occupational in origin, derived from the Middle High German word "scherer," which referred to a shearer or a cloth cutter. In the rugged mountain environment of western Austria, families often adopted surnames based on the specific trade they performed within their local village economy. During the eighteenth century, the people of Tyrol lived in tight-knit communities where such names served as a clear identifier of one's role in the production of wool or textiles. As these families settled into the valleys, they became integral parts of the regional social structure, maintaining their livelihoods through generations of craftsmanship. This connection to the land and their traditional trade helped the Sherer family establish a lasting presence in the historical record of the Austrian Alps.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une tête et col d'éléphant d'arg. C.: le meuble de l'écu.”
BadenBaden, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Sherer arms are recorded
The Sherer arms were recorded in Baden, c. 1745.
Baden was south-western German country along the Rhine, divided among many small landowners and market towns. So many households held ground there that the region produced a great many 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Baden.
Origin & History of the Sherer Family in Switzerland
The surname Sherer, often spelled Scherer in its original German form, finds its deep roots in the historical regions of Switzerland and the surrounding German-speaking territories. The name is occupational in origin, derived from the Middle High German word "scherer," which refers to a person who worked as a shearer or a barber. In the context of the Swiss cantons, families with this name were often integrated into the local agricultural or trade communities where their specialized skills were essential for daily life. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Baden, which served as a significant crossroads for families moving between the Swiss Confederation and the neighboring German states. This migration was common during the 1700s as families sought new opportunities in land cultivation and local commerce. The persistence of the name in these records suggests that the Sherer family was part of a stable, hardworking class that helped shape the social and economic foundations of the Baden area long before many members eventually emigrated to other parts of the world.
Sherer Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Scherer
Derived from the Middle High German word for a shearer or cutter.
This name
ShererAn occupational surname for a tailor, cloth cutter, or barber who used shears.
also spelled
Scherar
Sherer
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
Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin, Kirchenbücher der mecklenburgischen Landeskirche, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
