Map of Austria showing where the Crest arms are recorded
The Crest 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 Crest 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 Crest 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 Crest Family in Austria
The family name Crest finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Tyrol region. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this area, which spans parts of modern-day Austria and Italy. The name likely originated as a topographical descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near a mountain ridge or a prominent peak. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the local alpine economy, which included farming, forestry, and trade along the mountain passes. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Tyrolean valleys, contributing to the unique cultural and linguistic traditions that defined the region during the late Holy Roman Empire.
Crest Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
crista
Latin term referring to a tuft, plume, or ridge on a helmet.
This name
CrestA topographic name for someone living near a ridge or a metonymic occupational name for a helmet maker.
also spelled
Krest
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
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
