Map of Austria showing where the Chrest arms are recorded
The Chrest 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 Chrest 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 Chrest 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 Chrest Family in Austria
The family name Chrest finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous region of Tyrol, which spans parts of modern-day Austria and Italy. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the Chrest family were well established within this alpine landscape. During this period, the people of Tyrol lived in small, tight-knit communities that relied heavily on agriculture and trade routes crossing the Alps. Families like the Chrests were often deeply connected to the local parish systems, which served as the primary centers for recording births, marriages, and deaths. The name likely evolved as a regional variation of common Germanic or Latin-based naming traditions, reflecting the unique cultural blend of the Tyrol area. As these early ancestors navigated the challenges of life in the high mountains, they helped shape the local customs and social structures that defined the region during the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Christus
The anointed one or the messiah derived from Greek origins.
This name
ChrestA surname originating as a shortened form of Christian or a variant of Christ.
also spelled
Krest
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tauf-, Heirats- und Sterbebücher der Pfarreien in Tirol (1772)
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
lionCourage, strength and royalty
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
