A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Branstetter family of Austria.
Reg. 9100 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'or au lion de sa., posé sur un tertre de sin., tenant de ses pattes deux brandons de gu., en saut., allumés aux bouts. C.: deux brandons de gu., en saut., allumés d'or; le brandon en bande allumé au bout et à sen., celui en barre, allumé au bout, à dextre et à sen. L. d'or et de sa.”
AustriaVienne, c. 1772
Where the Branstetter Arms Were Recorded
Vienne
Map of Austria showing where the Branstetter arms are recorded
The Branstetter arms were recorded in Vienne, c. 1772.
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
Vienne
Town
Vienne
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Branstetter 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 Branstetter 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 Branstetter Family in Austria
The Branstetter name originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive surname for people living near a specific type of landscape. The name is derived from the German words "brennen," meaning to burn, and "Stätte," meaning a place or site. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near an area cleared by fire, perhaps for agriculture or charcoal production. By 1772, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Vienne, which was then part of the Habsburg Monarchy. These early families were often farmers or skilled tradespeople who moved through the central European territories in search of land and opportunity. As they settled into these communities, the name became a permanent marker of their family identity, reflecting both their occupation and the environment of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brandstätter
A person who clears land by burning trees and brush.
This name
BranstetterDerived from a topographic habitational name for someone living on a farm cleared by fire.
also spelled
Bransteter
Branstettner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen, geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Allgemeines Verwaltungsarchiv, Niederösterreichische Statthalterei records
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lionCourage, strength and royalty
