A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Argento family of Austria.
Reg. 1616 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'arg. à une femme iss., hab. de gu. ou de pourpre, tenant de sa main levée un thaler d'or; la femme du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or. Sur le tout losangé d'arg. et de pourpre. Cq. cour. C.: la femme iss. du 4. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Argento arms are recorded
The Argento 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 Argento 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 Argento 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 Argento Family in Austria
The family name Argento finds its roots in the linguistic evolution of the Italian language, derived from the Latin word argentum, which means silver. Historically, names of this type often functioned as occupational surnames, likely identifying an ancestor who worked as a silversmith or a merchant dealing in precious metals. By the late eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family had established a notable presence in the Tyrol region. This area, located in the heart of the Alps, served as a vital crossroads for trade between the Italian peninsula and the Germanic territories. Living in this mountainous landscape, the family likely participated in the vibrant exchange of goods and crafts that defined the region during the 1770s. Their migration or settlement in Tyrol suggests they were part of a mobile population that moved across borders to pursue economic opportunities in mining or metalwork.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Argentum
Latin word for the chemical element silver.
This name
ArgentoAn occupational name for a silversmith or someone who dealt in silver.
also spelled
Argento Silberberg
Argento de Silberberge
Argento de Silberber
Arzhento de Silberberg
Argento
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kohl, Johann Georg, Reisen in den österreichischen Alpen, 1842
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster (1772), Series 1772
Fuchs, Konrad, Wirtschaftsgeschichte der Alpenländer, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
