A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cervelli family of Austria.
Reg. 4135 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. au lion d'or, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à deux bandes de gu. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion du 1, iss.; 2° l'aigle; 3° deux prob. échiq. de gu. et d'arg. L.: des deux premiers cq., d'or et de sa.; du troisième, d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Cervelli Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Cervelli arms are recorded
The Cervelli 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 Cervelli 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 Cervelli 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 Cervelli Family in Austria
The name Cervelli carries a rich history rooted in the mountainous regions of Northern Italy and the Austrian Tyrol. While the name is often associated with Italian linguistic origins, the presence of the family in the Tyrol region by 1772 suggests a history defined by movement across the Alps. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were frequently involved in trade, agriculture, or the management of alpine estates. Because the Tyrol was a crossroads for travelers and merchants moving between the Italian peninsula and Central Europe, the Cervelli family likely adapted to the shifting political and cultural borders of the Holy Roman Empire. Their establishment in this region indicates that they were part of a resilient population that navigated the challenges of high-altitude living and the complex social structures of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cervus
Latin term for a deer or stag.
This name
CervelliAn occupational or descriptive name referring to someone with characteristics associated with a deer.
also spelled
Servelli
Cervelly
Servelee
Related arms
Fellnersimilar arms
Fellner de Feldeggsimilar arms
Lenard de Leonardissimilar arms
Leonardissimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lionCourage, strength and royalty
