A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altenburg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé: au 1 tranché d'arg. sur gu.; au 2 recoupé d'arg. sur gu. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu.”
The Altenburg arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1474.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Reigning in Austria when the Altenburg arms are first recorded.
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
The name Altenburg is deeply rooted in the history of the Austrian Alps, with records confirming that family members were established in the region of Tyrol by 1474. The name itself is topographic, meaning it was likely adopted by families who lived near an "old castle" or a fortified site that had fallen into ruin. During the late fifteenth century, the Tyrol region was a vital crossroads for trade and mining, and families like the Altenburgs often served as local administrators or landholders who helped maintain order in these rugged mountain territories. Because the name identifies a specific location rather than a single ancestor, it suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local landscape of the Holy Roman Empire. Over time, these early settlers became part of the social fabric of the Austrian provinces, contributing to the development of rural communities long before the name spread to other parts of Central Europe.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au lion dragonné de gu., arm., lamp. et cour. d'azur.”
The Altenburg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Reigning in Austria when the Altenburg arms are first recorded.
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
The name Altenburg is a locative surname, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Altenburg. In German, the name translates literally to old castle or old fortress. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Bavaria. During this era, Bavaria was a collection of territories undergoing significant social and economic shifts under the rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Families with this name were often tied to the land and local administration, reflecting the common practice of adopting place names to identify one's origin within the Holy Roman Empire. The presence of the family in 1765 suggests they were part of the stable, agrarian, and artisan classes that formed the backbone of Bavarian society before the major political upheavals of the nineteenth century.
Old or ancient and a fortified town or castle.
