A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bareis family of Austria.
Reg. 3862 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'or à l'aigle de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une rivière au nat., en bande ondée, acc. de deux étoiles d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1835
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Bareis arms are recorded
The Bareis arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1835.
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
1835
Granting Authority for the Bareis Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1804–1835
Reigning in Austria when the Bareis 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 Bareis Family in Austria
The family name Bareis has deep roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where ancestors were documented living as early as 1835. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname based on the local German dialects spoken in the Alpine valleys. During this period, families in Tyrol were often tied to the land through farming or skilled craftsmanship, and their surnames frequently evolved from the specific trades they performed or the unique features of the villages they inhabited. As the family moved and grew throughout the nineteenth century, the name became a permanent marker of their identity within the Austrian Empire. This history reflects the broader patterns of migration and social organization in the Alps, where tight-knit communities relied on clear naming traditions to track lineages across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bar
A Germanic term referring to a bear or a wild animal.
This name
BareisA topographic or occupational name for someone associated with bears or a bear-like person.
also spelled
Bareis-Barnhelm
Bareis
Baris Edle fon Barnhelm
Barnhelm
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Zivilstandsregister (Civil Status Registers)
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
