A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amberg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8115 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un tertre de trois coupeaux d'or, sommé d'une étoile du même; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à la barre ondée d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, l'aile dextre d'or ch. d'une barre d'azur surch. d'une étoile d'or, l'aile sen. de gu. ch. d'une bande ondée d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1610
Where the Amberg Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Amberg arms are recorded
The Amberg arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1610.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1610
Granting Authority for the Amberg Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Austria when the Amberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
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.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Amberg Family in Austria
The family name Amberg finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1610. The name itself is topographic, likely derived from the German word for a mountain or a hill, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors were closely tied to the geography of the Alpine region. During the seventeenth century, the Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the German lands and Italy. Families living in this area often held roles as local landowners, skilled craftsmen, or administrators within the provincial government. By settling in this mountainous terrain, the Amberg family became part of a resilient community that navigated the complex social and political shifts of the Holy Roman Empire. Their presence in the historical records of this era highlights a long tradition of stability and local influence within the heart of the Austrian Alps.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gyronny of six az. and or”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Amberg Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Amberg arms are recorded
The Amberg 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Austria when the Amberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
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.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Amberg Family in Germany
The family name Amberg is a classic example of a topographic surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific geographic location. The name is linked to the town of Amberg in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted the name of their home town to distinguish themselves from others as they traveled or moved to new areas. By the time records confirm the presence of the Amberg family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had been established for centuries as a way to identify individuals who hailed from this historic center of trade and iron mining. Because the town of Amberg served as a significant hub for commerce and politics in the Holy Roman Empire, families associated with the name were often connected to the regional development of southern Germany. This naming tradition reflects how deeply tied German surnames are to the local landscape and the movement of people across the Bavarian countryside during the pre-industrial era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Am-Berg
A combination of the words for at and mountain.
This name
AmbergRefers to a person who lived near or on a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Amburg
Amburge
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1610
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Verzeichnis der Tiroler Landstände
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Kühebacher, Egon, Die Ortsnamen Südtirols und ihre Geschichte, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
