A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cauthen family of Austria.
Reg. 0644 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. au lion de gu.; le champ chapé d'or, à deux los. de sa. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1625
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Map of Austria showing where the Cauthen arms are recorded
The Cauthen arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1625.
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
1625
Granting Authority for the Cauthen Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Austria when the Cauthen 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 Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Cauthen Family in Austria
The history of the Cauthen family name is deeply rooted in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1625. During this period, Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Germanic north and the Italian south. Families living in this alpine landscape often derived their surnames from specific geographic landmarks or the local dialects spoken in their mountain valleys. As the family moved across Europe, the spelling of the name likely shifted to match the phonetic patterns of the regions where they settled. By maintaining their presence in these historic territories, the early Cauthens became part of the complex social fabric that defined Central European life during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kaut
A Middle High German term referring to a jackdaw or crow.
This name
CauthenAn occupational or descriptive surname likely identifying a person with characteristics resembling a jackdaw.
also spelled
Kauthon
Cauthone
Cauthonn
Cothon
Kothon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
