The ending "—scheid" points to forest clearing in the Early Middle Ages. In 1465, Hörscheid had its first documentary mention, according to which the village already existed in 1398. In the 16th century, the settlement consisted of five hearths. The village was from Frankish times part of the "Amt" of Daun, which as of 1354 belonged to the Electorate of Trier. Ecclesiastically, however, the whole "Amt" of Daun belonged to the Electorate of Cologne. The area is mainly Roman Catholic, and Hörscheid has belonged to the Parish of Darscheid since 1803. The bell at Saint Brigid's Catholic Chapel was poured in 1678, meaning that there must also have been a chapel as early as that. It was renovated in 1850. The Evangelical parish belongs to the Deaconry of Adenau. In 1787, there was a “winter school” ("Winterschule" – a kind of agricultural school that grew up in response to the Industrial Revolution) in Hörscheid. The teacher at the time was Johann Peter Stoll. Later, schoolchildren went to a one-room primary school in Darscheid, which was closed in 1975. Ever since, Hörscheid schoolchildren have been attending the two-stream primary school in Mehren. A kindergarten is also available in Darscheid. Life for Eifel dwellers was often hard owing to the rough climate and the poor soils. Owing to the great neediness in the early 19th century, 31 persons all together emigrated from Hörscheid to North America. Only beginning in 1860 could the food supply for the people be lastingly ensured by reforestation of the sparse heath and improved agricultural methods. In 1912 came the merging of fields that through inheritance had become splintered. In 1931, a central water supply was built. In 1933, a great deal of the heathland was cultivated. The council is made up of 6 council members, who were elected by majority vote at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman. Hörscheid's mayor is Hans Schuh. He was elected in the mayoral contest on 7 September 2009 and succeeded Walter Steinebach. The German blazon reads: "In Silber ein blauer Wellenstab, vorn ein durchgehendes rotes Balkenkreuz, hinten über einem grünen Eichenblatt eine rote Flamme".