Map of Austria showing where the Berghoefer arms are recorded
The Berghoefer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1772.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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
Bavaria
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Berghoefer 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 Berghoefer 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Berghoefer Family in Austria
The family name Berghoefer originates from the German language and serves as a topographical surname. It is composed of the words Berg, meaning mountain or hill, and Hoefer, which refers to someone who manages a farm or lives on a homestead. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely farmers who lived on or near a prominent hillside. By 1772, records confirm that the family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, most people in rural Bavaria lived in small, tight-knit village communities where their livelihood depended on the land. The name reflects a deep connection to the geography of southern Germany and identifies the family as individuals who played a vital role in the agricultural life of their local hillside settlements.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg and Hofer
Mountain or hill and a person who works on a farm.
This name
BerghoeferA person who operates a farm located on a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Berghoferh
Berghofere
Bergofer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
