A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Diefenbach family of Austria.
Reg. 0748 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Tiercé en pal: de gu., d'arg. et de sa. Cq cour. C.: un vol, tiercé en pal, l'aile dextre de sa., d'arg. et de gu., l'aile sen. de gu., d'arg. et de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
CarinthiaCarinthia, c. 1772
Where the Diefenbach Arms Were Recorded
Carinthia
Map of Austria showing where the Diefenbach arms are recorded
The Diefenbach arms were recorded in Carinthia, c. 1772.
Carinthia was Alpine country in southern Austria with iron and lead in its mountains. Mining and landholding both made money, and families who held either kind of property took 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
Carinthia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Diefenbach 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 Diefenbach 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 Carinthia.
Origin & History of the Diefenbach Family in Austria
The surname Diefenbach is a topographic name that originates from the German language. It is composed of the words "tief," meaning deep, and "Bach," meaning brook or stream. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely lived near a deep valley or a stream bed. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the Diefenbach family were established in the region of Carinthia, which is located in the southern part of modern-day Austria. During this period, families often moved across Central Europe to find better farmland or to escape the effects of local conflicts. The presence of the family in Carinthia indicates that they were part of the German-speaking population that settled in the Alpine regions centuries ago. Over time, the name spread as family members moved to different towns and villages to pursue various trades and livelihoods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Diep-bach
A deep stream or brook flowing through a valley.
This name
DiefenbachRefers to someone who lived near a deep, significant creek or watercourse.
also spelled
Deefenbak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kärntner Landesarchiv, Kärntner Landesarchiv: Grundbuch der Herrschaften, 1772
Udolph, Jürgen, Duden: Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
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