A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dorfner family of Austria.
Reg. 6200 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même; au 2 d'arg. à une autruche au nat., tenant en son bec un fer-à-cheval du même et posé sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: l'autruche. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. D.: VIRTUS OMNIA VINCIT.”
Austriac. 1784
Where the Dorfner Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Dorfner arms are recorded
The Dorfner arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1784.
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
1784
Granting Authority for the Dorfner 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 Dorfner 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 Dorfner Family in Austria
The surname Dorfner is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, specifically within the mountainous landscapes of the Alps. The name is derived from the German word Dorf, which means village, combined with the suffix -ner, which identifies a person who lives in or is associated with a specific place. Historically, this suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely villagers or farmers who lived on the outskirts of a settlement. By 1784, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Tyrol region of modern-day Austria. During this period, families in Tyrol were often deeply connected to the land and local parish communities, where they played essential roles in the agricultural and social life of their mountain valleys. The name serves as a historical marker of a family that maintained a steady presence in these rural communities for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dorf
A small settlement, village, or farmstead.
This name
DorfnerRefers to a person who lived in or originated from a village.
Related arms
Brakenhausensimilar arms
Mogge-Muilmansimilar arms
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
Kohl, Johann Georg, Reise durch die österreichischen Provinzen, 1842
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Heirats- und Taufmatriken (Parish Registers), 1784
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
