The history of Aurich dates back to the 13th century, when the settlement ofAurechove was mentioned in aFrisian document called theBrokmerbrief in 1276. There are various hypotheses about the interpretation of the city name. It either refers to a person (Affo, East Frisian first name ) and his property (Reich) or it refers to waterworks on the fertile, water-rich lowland of the Aa (or Ehe) river, upon which the city was built; medieval realizations were Aurichove, Aurike, Aurikehove, Auerk, Auryke, Auwerckhove, Auwerick, Auwerck, Auwreke, Awerck, Awreke, Awrik, Auwerich and Aurickeshove .
In 1517,Count Edzard from the House ofCirksena began rebuilding the town after an attack. In 1539, the land authorities were brought together in Aurich, making it the county capital and, later,East Frisia, remaining the seat of the land authorities when East Frisia was inherited by theKingdom of Prussia in 1744. After thePrussian Army was defeated in theBattle of Jena in 1807, Aurich became part of theKingdom of Holland in 1808. In 1810, the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France and Aurich was made the capital of thedepartmentEms-Oriental of theFirst French Empire. After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, it passed to theKingdom of Hanover in 1815, and then was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and made part of theProvince of Hanover.
Aurich's coat of arms is drawn by theblazon: "Arms: Landscape with chief two-thirds sky and base third earth, ashield Gules emblazoned with letter 'A' Or, an open-toppedcrown Or above, two growingtrees Vert at sides. Crown: Abattlement Gules with three merlons and two embrasures. Supporters: Twobranches ofmistletoe withleaves andberries Or.".
The coat of arms of the district with thesame name is different.
