A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brenneis family of Austria.
Reg. 1698 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à un mur pignonné de quatre degrés au nat., sommé d'un pennon coupé de sa. sur or; ledit pennon surm. de trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or; le champ chapé d'or, ch. à dextre un épi au nat. et à sen. d'une abeille au nat. Cq. cour. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., posé sur le coude, la main tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Brenneis Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Brenneis arms are recorded
The Brenneis arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
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
1772
Granting Authority for the Brenneis 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 Brenneis 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 Brenneis Family in Austria
The family name Brenneis finds its historical roots in the rugged Alpine region of Tyrol. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this mountainous territory. The name itself is thought to be derived from Middle High German terms related to land cultivation or the clearing of forests, which suggests that the early Brenneis ancestors were likely farmers or settlers who worked the difficult terrain of the Eastern Alps. Life in Tyrol during the eighteenth century was shaped by the harsh climate and the isolation of high-altitude valleys, forcing families to be self-sufficient and deeply connected to their local parishes. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the Habsburg Empire, the Brenneis name became firmly embedded in the regional identity of the Tyrol area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brennen
To burn or to clear land by burning.
This name
BrenneisA topographic name for someone who lived on land cleared by burning or a fire-maker.
also spelled
Brenneiss
Brenneys
Brenneisen
Brenice
Brenis
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
