A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bissing family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4482 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à deux fers de faux adossés d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à l'aigle de sa. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu.; le tout entre un vol de sa. L. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux griffons d'or.”
Germanyc. 1633
Where the Bissing Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bissing arms are recorded
The Bissing arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1633.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Bissing arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Bissing Family in Germany
The family name Bissing traces its roots to the southern regions of Germany, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Bavaria as early as 1633. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and agricultural structures of the Holy Roman Empire. Families like the Bissings often lived in small, rural communities where their identity was shaped by the local traditions of the Bavarian countryside. As the seventeenth century progressed, the name became associated with families who navigated the challenges of a region frequently impacted by the political and religious shifts of the Thirty Years' War. Because surnames were often derived from personal nicknames or local geographic landmarks, the name likely served as a way to distinguish specific households within their growing village networks. Over time, the Bissing family established a presence that persisted through generations, reflecting the resilience of common citizens living in the heart of Central Europe.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à deux los. accostées d'azur; au chef émanché de trois pièces du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° et 2° un vol d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'une los. d'azur.”
Austriac. 1765
Where the Bissing Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Bissing arms are recorded
The Bissing arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1765.
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
1765
Granting Authority for the Bissing Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Bissing 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 Bissing Family in Austria
The history of the Bissing family in Austria is deeply rooted in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, where members of the family were firmly established by 1765. During this period, the region served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange within the Habsburg Empire. Families like the Bissings often held positions of local influence or managed agricultural estates that supported the growing population of the Alpine valleys. As the name became more prominent in regional records, it reflected the family's transition from local landowners to figures involved in the administrative and social life of the Austrian territories. By settling in Tyrol, the early Bissings became part of a resilient community that navigated the complex political shifts of the eighteenth century while maintaining their presence in the heart of the Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biss
A Middle High German term referring to a bite or sting.
This name
BissingA patronymic or descriptive name likely denoting a person with a sharp or biting temperament.
also spelled
Byssing
Bising
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
swordJustice, and military honour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
swordJustice, and military honour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
