A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the App family of Austria.
Reg. 5536 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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.: au 1 de sa. à l'aigle ép. d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au lion d'or, cour. du même, tenant entre ses pattes un soleil aussi d'or, le lion du 3 cont.; au 4 de gu. à un mur crén. touchant les bords du quartier, sommé de trois tours, celle du milieu supérieure, le tout d'arg., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. A la croix pattée d'or, br. sur les écartelures, ch. en coeur d'une rose de gu. Cq. cour. C.: le lion du 2, iss., entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the App Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the App arms are recorded
The App 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 App 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 App 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 App Family in Austria
The family name App has deep roots in the Alpine region, with historical documentation confirming that members of the family were established in the Tyrol area by 1772. The name itself is thought to be a shortened form of names like Albrecht or Appolinaris, which were common throughout Germanic regions during the Middle Ages. Families with this name often lived in mountainous or rural settings where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local traders. Because the Tyrol region served as a major crossroads for travel between northern and southern Europe, the App family likely benefited from the movement of goods and ideas through the mountain passes. Over many generations, the family became a stable part of the local community, maintaining their presence in the region through the late eighteenth century and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Appo
A Germanic short form of names beginning with the element adal meaning noble.
This name
AppA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of names like Adalbert or Albrecht.
also spelled
Appe
Appp
Ap
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
