A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bez family of Austria.
Reg. 6030 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'aigle de sa.; au 2 parti: a. d'arg. à un chien ramp. d'azur, ayant deux têtes adossées; b. de gu. à un château d'arg., mouv. de la p., supp. une aigle d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: le chien, iss. et posé de front. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1603
Where the Bez Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Bez arms are recorded
The Bez arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1603.
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
1603
Granting Authority for the Bez Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Austria when the Bez 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 Bez Family in Austria
The family name Bez has deep roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1603. During this period, the name likely emerged as a short, descriptive identifier for individuals living in the alpine landscape. In the German-speaking regions of the Alps, surnames often evolved from local nicknames or shortened versions of longer given names. Families in Tyrol during the early seventeenth century were typically tied to the land through agriculture or specialized mountain trades. As the Bez family settled into the valleys, they became part of the local social fabric that defined the unique culture of the Austrian and Italian borderlands. Their presence in the historical record suggests they were part of the hardworking communities that navigated the challenges of life in the high mountains during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bazo
Old High German term referring to a short or stout person.
This name
BezA topographic or descriptive surname likely denoting a person of small stature or compact build.
also spelled
Beze
Bess
Bezz
Related arms
Bessvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1603
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Steub, Ludwig, Zur rhätischen Ethnologie, 1854
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
