A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Apfel family of Austria.
Reg. 8120 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
branchPeace, and new growth
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu.; à une branche de pommier au nat., posée en pal, br. sur le coupé, accolee d'un serpent d'arg., cour. d'or, tenant entre ses dents une pomme de gu. Cq. cour. C.: les meubles de l'écu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Apfel Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Apfel arms are recorded
The Apfel 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 Apfel 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 Apfel 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 Apfel Family in Austria
The surname Apfel is a German occupational name that translates directly to apple. In the centuries before standardized spelling, this name was likely given to someone who grew, sold, or lived near an apple orchard. By the year 1772, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the alpine region of Tyrol. During this period, the people of Tyrol lived in a rugged landscape that relied heavily on agriculture and trade routes connecting northern and southern Europe. Families like the Apfels were often tied to the land, working as farmers or local craftsmen in the mountain valleys. As the name spread through these communities, it became a permanent identifier for families who took pride in their connection to the fertile soil and the fruit harvests of their home region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
apful
Old High German word for apple or fruit of the tree.
This name
ApfelAn occupational surname for someone who grew, sold, or lived near apple trees.
also spelled
Apfell
Apfele
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
branchPeace, and new growth
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
branchPeace, and new growth
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
