A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berres family of Austria.
Reg. 2246 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à une coupe d'or, accollée d'un serpent de sin., se désaltérant dans la coupe; au 2 d'arg. à une grue blanche, bq. et m. de gu., tenant en son bec une plume à écrire blanche et dans sa patte dextre levée une vigilance au nat. C.: une aigle iss. de sa. L. à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1842
Where the Berres Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Berres arms are recorded
The Berres arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1842.
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
1842
Granting Authority for the Berres Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand I of Austria
1835–1848
Reigning in Austria when the Berres 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 Berres Family in Austria
The family name Berres has deep roots in the Alpine regions of Central Europe, particularly within the historic territory of Tyrol. By the mid-nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the Berres family were well-established residents of this mountainous area. The name is often associated with the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking populations in the region, where surnames frequently evolved from local geographic markers or specific occupations. Families in Tyrol during the 1840s lived through a time of significant social change as the region transitioned under the influence of the Austrian Empire. During this era, the Berres family would have been part of a tight-knit community shaped by high-altitude farming, trade routes through the mountain passes, and the unique cultural identity of the Tyrolean people. Their presence in official documents from 1842 suggests that the family was integrated into the administrative and social life of their village long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bero
An Old High German personal name derived from the word for bear.
This name
BerresA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Bero or a dweller near a bear habitat.
also spelled
Berrez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Zivilstandsregister (Civil Status Registers), 1842
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Steub, Ludwig, Zur Ethnographie der deutschen Alpen, 1843
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
