A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Werner family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3373 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 d'arg. à une demi-aigle de Prusse, mouv. du parti; au 2 d'azur à une croix grecque d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un demi-vol de sa. L. d'arg. et de sa. T.: deux sphinx adossés, couchés sur une terrasse.”
Germanyc. 1701
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Map of Germany showing where the Werner arms are recorded
The Werner arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1701.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Werner 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 Werner Family in Germany
The name Werner has deep roots in the Germanic regions of Europe and functions as a classic example of a name derived from a personal given name. It originates from the Old High German elements *warin*, meaning guard or protection, and *hari*, meaning army. By the time the name became a hereditary surname, it was already well-established across various German-speaking territories. Records confirm that members of the Werner family were living in Bavaria by 1701, a time when the region was undergoing significant social and political changes following the devastation of earlier conflicts. During this era, families often settled in specific rural or urban centers where they contributed to the local economy as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople. The name spread steadily through the region as families grew and moved between neighboring villages to find work or land. Because the name was tied to a common personal name, it was adopted independently by many different lineages across Germany, making it a widespread and enduring part of the cultural landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 parti: a. d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ et ch. sur la poitrine du chiffre F. H., aussi d'or; b. d'azur à une colombe d'arg., tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier de sin., et posée sur une roue de six rayons d'or; au 2 un mur crén. d'arg., maçonné de sa. Cq. cour. C.: l'aigle. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux aigles au nat., arm. d'or.”
Austriac. 1805
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Map of Austria showing where the Werner arms are recorded
The Werner arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1805.
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
1805
Granting Authority for the Werner Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Werner 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 Werner Family in Austria
The surname Werner traces its roots back to the Germanic personal name Warinhari, which combines the elements for protection and army. By the time the name became established in the mountainous region of Tyrol in the early 19th century, it had evolved from a given name into a hereditary family identifier. In the context of 1805 Austria, the Werner family lived during a period of significant political upheaval as the region transitioned through the Napoleonic Wars. Families like the Werners were often deeply connected to the local Alpine economy, which relied on agriculture, mining, and trade routes crossing the mountain passes. As the name spread through the Austrian provinces, it became associated with the sturdy, independent spirit of the Tyrolean people who maintained strong local traditions while navigating the shifting borders of the Habsburg Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Warin-hari
Derived from the Germanic elements for guard or protector and army.
This name
WernerA guardian of the army or a protective warrior.
also spelled
Wernher
Wernar
Verner
Warner
Related arms
Ebellsimilar arms
Hellermannsimilar arms
Vernervariant spelling
Wernhervariant spelling
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
