The history of the district is linked with the history of the region of East Frisia.
The district was established in 1977 by merging the former districts of Aurich and Norden.
Geography
The district is located in the westernmost part of East Frisia (Ostfriesland). In the west there is the mouth of the river Ems and the Krummhörn peninsula protruding into the estuary. With a population of approximately 190,000 (as of 31 December 2016) it is the biggest district of East Frisia.
The coat of arms, granted in 1978, displays the so-called virgineagle (or harpy), which was the heraldicanimal of the Cirksena family, a local clan providing East Frisian chieftains during the Middle Ages. The acorns in the arms are symbols of the city of Aurich and the six-pointed spurs are symbols of Norden. The blazon is: "party per pale Azure and Gules, a harpy gardant Argent, above shoulders two six-pointed mullets Argent, below wings two acorns inverted Argent".
The former coat of arms, granted in 1950, shows a goldenoak tree, representing the Upstalbeam [fy], a tree outside the city of Aurich under which free Frisians gathered for their yearly council meetings. Its blazon is: "Gules, an oak tree Or, on a hill Or at base".