A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernthal family of Austria.
Reg. 9934 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 de gu. à la rose d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 tranché: a. d'azur à un ours de sa., pass. en bande; b. de gu. à la bande d'arg. A une couronne de feuillage de sin., br. sur l'écartelé. Cq. cour. C.: un ours iss. de sa., cour. d'or, tenant de ses pattes une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; senestré d'un drapeau de gu. ch. d'une croix écotée d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1636
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Map of Austria showing where the Bernthal arms are recorded
The Bernthal arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1636.
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
1636
Granting Authority for the Bernthal 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 Bernthal 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 Bernthal Family in Austria
The surname Bernthal originates from the German-speaking regions of the Alps, specifically appearing in historical records within the Tyrol area by 1636. The name is topographical, meaning it was likely derived from the landscape where the family first settled. In the German language, the prefix "Bern" often relates to a bear or a brook, while "thal" translates to a valley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or mountain dwellers who lived in a specific valley associated with these features. During the seventeenth century, life in the Tyrol region was defined by the rugged terrain and the influence of the Holy Roman Empire. Families like the Bernthals were typically part of the local agrarian society, living in small, tight-knit communities that were deeply connected to the land and the changing seasons of the high mountains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern-Tal
A combination of the words for bear and valley.
This name
BernthalRefers to a valley inhabited by bears or a valley associated with the name Bernhard.
also spelled
Berenhardt
Bernhart de Bernthal
Bernthal
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
