A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berka family of Austria.
Reg. 5506 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à deux chicots de sa., passés en saut. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu [V. Berghenda dit Berka.]”
Austriac. 1637
Where the Berka Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Berka arms are recorded
The Berka arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1637.
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
1637
Granting Authority for the Berka Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Austria when the Berka 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 Berka Family in Austria
The surname Berka is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Central Europe, with records confirming that members of the family were established in the Tyrol region by 1637. The name is often associated with the Slavic word "ber," which relates to the bear, suggesting that early ancestors may have been identified by their strength or their proximity to forested areas where these animals lived. As families moved through the mountainous terrain of the Alps and the surrounding territories, they often took on names that reflected their local environment or specific personal traits. By the early 17th century, the Berka family had integrated into the social and economic fabric of Tyrol, participating in the agricultural and craft-based life common to that region. Their presence in official documents from this period indicates that they were settled members of the community who contributed to the local history of the Austrian lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ber
A Germanic or Slavic root word meaning bear.
This name
BerkaA diminutive form referring to a person associated with a bear or a dweller near a bear habitat.
also spelled
Berkaa
Berkay
Related arms
Ronowsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kohl, Wilhelm. Die Besiedlung des Tiroler Raumes. 1982
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
branchPeace, and new growth
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
branchPeace, and new growth
