A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bilas family of Austria.
Reg. 1103 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 coupé d'or sur sa.; à une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, posée en pal, br. sur le coupé; au 2 de gu. à un rocher, au nat., mouv. de la p., sommé d'une tour carrée d'arg. en ruines, aj. de deux pièces de sa., l'une sur l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1860
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Map of Austria showing where the Bilas arms are recorded
The Bilas arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1860.
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
1860
Granting Authority for the Bilas Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Austria when the Bilas 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 Bilas Family in Austria
The surname Bilas is deeply rooted in the Alpine landscapes of the Tyrol region, where families bearing this name were well-established by the mid-19th century. Historically, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a localized variation of names common to the borderlands between Germanic and Slavic linguistic spheres. In the mountainous terrain of the 1860s, families like the Bilas group often lived in small, tight-knit village communities that relied on agriculture, forestry, and trade routes crossing the Alps. Life in this region was shaped by the harsh climate and the complex political shifts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Because the name appears in regional records during this era, it suggests that the family was part of the traditional social fabric of the Tyrol, contributing to the local economy and the distinct cultural identity of the mountain provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bili
Old Germanic root meaning gentle or kind.
This name
BilasA diminutive form indicating a person of gentle or friendly character.
also spelled
Byls
Bilsen
Bylse
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Zivilstandsregister der Pfarreien (1860)
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch (1937)
Kühebacher, Egon, Die Ortsnamen Südtirols und ihre Geschichte (1991)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swordJustice, and military honour
