Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
Harnack Coat of Arms / Harnack Family CrestThis German and Dutch surname of HARNACK was a nickname for the strong and robust man. The name was also used as a baptismal name meaning 'the son of HARDUWICH' (hard, battle). Surnames are divided into four categories, from occupations, nicknames, baptismal and locational. All the main types of these are found in German-speaking areas, and names derived from occupations and from nicknames are particularly common. A number of these are Jewish. Patronymic surnames are derived from vernacular Germanic given names, often honouring Christian saints. Regional and ethnic names are also common. The German preposition 'von (from) or 'of', used with habitation names, is taken as a mark of aristocracy, and usually denoted proprietorship of the village or estate from where they came. Some members of the nobility affected the form VON UND ZU with their titles. In eastern Germany there was a heavy influence both from and on neighbouring Slavonic languages. Many Prussian surnames are of Slavonic origin. The Dutch language is most closely related to Low German, and its surnames have been influenced both by German and French naming practices. The preposition 'van' is found especially with habitation names, and the 'de' mainly with nicknames. The name is also spelt HARTWIG, HARTWICH, HARTWEG and HARTEWIG. A notable member of the name was Adolf von HARNACK (1851-1930) the German theologian, born in Dorpat, son of the Lutheran dogmatic theologian Theodosius HARNACK (1817-89). He became a professor at Leipzig, Giessen, Marburg and Berlin. From 1905 to 1921 he was keeper of the Royal (later State) Library, Berlin. His brother Otto (1857-1914) was professor of literature and history at Darmstadt, then at Stuttgart. The word Heraldry is derived from the German HEER, (a host, an army) and HELD, (champion): the term BLASON, by which the science is denoted in French, English, Italian and German, has most probably its origin in the German word 'BLAZEN' (to blow the horn). Whenever a new knight appeared at a Tournament, the herald sounded the trumpet, and as competitors attended with closed vizors, it was his duty to explain the bearing of the shield or coat-armour belonging to each. Thus, the knowledge of the various devices and symbols was called 'Heraldry'. The Germans transmitted the word to the French, and it reached England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. |
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