A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Auffenberg family of Austria.
Reg. 5719 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une chouette au nat., posée sur un tertre d'or. C.: la chouette. S. à dextre: un loup reg. au nat.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Auffenberg Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Auffenberg arms are recorded
The Auffenberg 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 Auffenberg 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 Auffenberg 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 Auffenberg Family in Austria
The family name Auffenberg originates from the mountainous region of Tyrol, where members of the family were firmly established by 1772. The name itself is topographic, meaning it likely described people who lived on or near a specific hill or mountain elevation. In the German language, the prefix "auf" suggests a location upon or upward, while "Berg" refers to a mountain. During the eighteenth century, families in the Alpine regions often adopted names that reflected their connection to the rugged landscape they inhabited. As residents of Tyrol, the early Auffenbergs were part of a society deeply rooted in mountain agriculture, local trade, and the unique cultural traditions of the Eastern Alps. Over time, the family name became a permanent marker of their geographic identity within this historic region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Auf dem Berg
German phrase meaning on the mountain or upon the hill.
This name
AuffenbergA topographic surname denoting someone who lived on or near a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Aufenberg
Auffenberk
Ofenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kulturabteilung des Landes Tirol, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Familiennamen und ihre Herkunft, 1985
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
