A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arthofer family of Austria.
Reg. 0692 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
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'or à la bande de sa.; au 2 d'or à trois chev. crén. de gu.; au 3 d'azur au griffon d'or, cour. du même. A la croix pattée de pourpre, br. sur l'écartelé. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon du 3, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'azur et de gu.”
Austriac. 1554
Where the Arthofer Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Arthofer arms are recorded
The Arthofer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1554.
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
1554
Granting Authority for the Arthofer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Austria when the Arthofer 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 Arthofer Family in Austria
The Arthofer family name finds its historical roots in the rugged Alpine landscape of Tyrol, where members of the family were documented as early as 1554. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, suggesting that the first individuals to carry it lived near a specific landmark or a farmstead associated with the name Arthofer. During the sixteenth century, Tyrol was a vital crossroads for trade and culture in the Holy Roman Empire, and families like the Arthofers were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy or regional administration. Because the region was defined by isolated mountain valleys, families often developed strong local identities tied to their specific village or parish. By establishing themselves in this area by the mid-1500s, the Arthofers became part of the long-standing social fabric of the Tyrolean highlands, living through a period of significant religious and political change in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Art
A Germanic element derived from the word for earth or plow.
This name
ArthoferA topographic surname referring to someone who lived or worked on a specific plot of land.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
