A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Daun family of Austria.
Reg. 9173 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or fretté de gu. C.: un cygne iss. d'arg., bq. d'or, le vol levé. D.: POTIUS ESSE QUAM VIDERI.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Daun Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Daun arms are recorded
The Daun 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 Daun 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 Daun 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 Daun Family in Austria
The family name Daun has deep roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where members of the family were documented as early as 1772. The name itself is thought to be topographic, meaning it likely originated from a description of the landscape where the family first settled. In the local dialect and German language, the term often relates to the word for a downy or soft-textured area, possibly referring to a specific valley or a grassy meadow. During the eighteenth century, families in Tyrol were often tied closely to the land through agriculture or trade along the vital mountain passes that connected northern and southern Europe. By the time records confirm their presence in the region in 1772, the Daun family was part of a stable community that navigated the unique social and economic challenges of life in the Alps. This early history reflects a pattern of families establishing themselves in specific geographic pockets, where they maintained their identity through generations of local work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Tann
Old High German word for a fir tree or a forest.
This name
DaunA topographic name for someone who lived near or in a fir forest.
also spelled
Daune
Daunn
Down
Related arms
Suchetsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
