A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dieffenbach family of Austria.
Reg. 0968 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé de sa. sur or; à un ours au nat., arm. et langué de gu., tenant entre ses pattes une tête humaine d'or, tort. de gu. C.: un vol d'or, ch. d'une patte d'aigle de sa. L.: d'or et de sa.”
AustriaGratz Styrie, c. 1577
Where the Dieffenbach Arms Were Recorded
Gratz
Map of Austria showing where the Dieffenbach arms are recorded
The Dieffenbach arms were recorded in Gratz Styrie, c. 1577.
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
Gratz
Town
Gratz Styrie
First recorded
1577
Granting Authority for the Dieffenbach Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Austria when the Dieffenbach 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 Dieffenbach Family in Austria
The Dieffenbach family name originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a topographic surname. The name is derived from the words "tief," meaning deep, and "Bach," meaning brook or stream, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a deep valley or a sunken watercourse. By the year 1577, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the town of Gratz. During this period, families often took their names from the specific landscapes they inhabited, which helped distinguish them in growing communities. As the family moved and expanded throughout the region, the name became a permanent marker of their geographical roots and historical presence in the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dieffenbach
Deep stream or brook flowing through a valley.
This name
DieffenbachA topographic name for someone living near a deep or sunken creek.
also spelled
Deefenbak
Related arms
Fraidrecorded with Dieffenbach, same area
Freybergerrecorded with Dieffenbach, same area
Freyburgerrecorded with Dieffenbach, same area
Freysamrecorded with Dieffenbach, same area
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Steiermärkisches Landesarchiv, Personenstandsunterlagen der Stadt Graz, 1577
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
