A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Anfang family of Austria.
Reg. 4501 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à un lévrier au nat., coll. d'or, iss. du canton sen. de la p. et touchant de sa bouche la bouche d'un lévrier pareil, renversé, iss. du canton dextre du chef. C.: un lévrier iss. au nat, coll. d'or,”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Anfang Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Anfang arms are recorded
The Anfang arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
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
1772
Granting Authority for the Anfang Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Anfang 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 Anfang Family in Austria
The surname Anfang originates from the German word meaning beginning or start, suggesting that the family may have been identified by their role as pioneers or early settlers in a specific region. By 1772, historical records confirm that members of the Anfang family were well-established residents of the Tyrol region, a mountainous area located in the heart of the Alps. During this period, families in Tyrol often lived in small, tight-knit mountain communities where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or traders. Because the region served as a major crossroads for travel between northern and southern Europe, the Anfang family likely lived in a dynamic environment shaped by constant movement and trade. Their presence in these high-altitude valleys indicates a history of resilience and adaptation to the challenging alpine landscape that defined life in the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Anfang
German word meaning beginning or commencement.
This name
AnfangA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living at the start of a settlement or path.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1772
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
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