A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arz family of Austria.
Reg. 4100 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à deux lions naiss. et adossés d'arg., mouv. d'une rivière au nat. en p. (Arz); aux 2 et 3 coupé d'azur sur or, à quatre lions léopardés de l'un à l'autre, posés l'un sur l'autre. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un lion iss. et cont. d'arg., cour. d'or, sommé de trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu.; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2º un vol à l'antique, aux armes du 2; 1. d'or et d'azur [V. Arzt.]”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Arz Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Arz arms are recorded
The Arz 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 Arz 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 Arz 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 Arz Family in Austria
The family name Arz finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Tyrol region. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this area, which spans parts of modern-day Austria and Italy. The name itself is thought to be linked to the German word for a physician or healer, suggesting that early ancestors may have held respected roles as local medical practitioners in their alpine communities. Because Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and travel through the Alps, families like the Arz clan often lived in close-knit villages where they contributed to the local economy and social structure. Over many generations, the family became deeply woven into the fabric of Tyrolean life, reflecting the resilience and traditions of the people living in these high mountain valleys.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arzt
A person who practices medicine or healing.
This name
ArzAn occupational surname for a physician or a medical practitioner.
Related arms
Arsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
