 An independent municipality before, it merged on 1 January 2009 with neighboring Chandolin, Grimentz, Saint Jean, Saint-Luc and Vissoie to form the municipality of Anniviers.Ayer is first mentioned in 1296.The blazon of the village coat of arms is "Gules tripant on Coupeaux Vert an Ibex Argent in chief four Mullets of Five of the last in cross."