A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bornstein family of Austria.
Reg. 1182 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au rencontre de buffle de sa., bouclé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le meuble de l'écu.”
StyriaStyria, c. 1772
Where the Bornstein Arms Were Recorded
Styria
Map of Austria showing where the Bornstein arms are recorded
The Bornstein arms were recorded in Styria, c. 1772.
Styria was mountain and forest country in southern Austria, with iron in its hills. Mining and landholding both made money, and families who held either kind of property took arms to seal their papers with.
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
Styria
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Bornstein Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Bornstein 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 Styria.
Origin & History of the Bornstein Family in Austria
The name Bornstein is a topographical surname that likely originated in German-speaking regions, combining the words for "well" or "spring" and "stone." This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent stone spring or a landmark defined by a rocky water source. By the year 1772, historical records confirm that members of the Bornstein family were firmly established in the region of Styria, which is located in modern-day Austria. During this period, families in Styria were often tied to the land through agricultural work or local trade, and the name served as a way to identify individuals based on their specific geographic surroundings. As the family grew and moved across Central Europe, the name remained a link to these early roots in the mountainous landscapes of the Styrian territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bornstein
Germanic roots meaning child or source and stone or rock.
This name
BornsteinA topographic name for someone living near a prominent rock or a stone quarry.
also spelled
Bornsteyn
Bornstain
Bornstine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Steiermärkisches Landesarchiv, Styrian Census Records (Steiermärkische Steuerkataster), 1772
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
