A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dur family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7240 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'or sur un mur crén. d'arg., maçonné de sa.; l'or ch. d'un homme iss. de carn., posé de profil, mouv. du mur, hab. de sa., au rabat d'or, ceint du même, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais du même, retr. et houppé d'or, tenant un bâton de commandement au nat. C.: l'homme, iss.; entre deux prob., coupées alt. de sa. et or, ornées chacune dans son embouchure d'une étoile d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Dur Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Dur arms are recorded
The Dur arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Dur arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Franconia.
Origin & History of the Dur Family in Germany
The surname Dur originates from the German language, where the word *dürr* historically described someone who was thin or lean in stature. During the eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Franconia region of Germany. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Dur family were active participants in the local economy and social structure of this area. Because Franconia was a diverse region characterized by small villages and agricultural communities, families like the Durs often relied on farming or skilled trades to sustain their households. The name likely began as a descriptive nickname used by neighbors to distinguish individuals within a growing population. Over time, as record-keeping became more formal in German parishes, this nickname transitioned into a permanent family name that was passed down through generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un homme iss., mouv. d'une champagne de sin., hab. d'or, rebr. de sa., au rabat du même, tenant une branche écotée au nat. C.: la branche écotée, en pal. L. d'or et d'azur.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Dur Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Dur arms are recorded
The Dur arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1772.
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 Dur 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 Germany when the Dur 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 Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Dur Family in Austria
The family name Dur has deep roots in the rugged landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where members of the family were officially documented as residents by 1772. The name itself is closely linked to the German word for firm or hardy, which likely reflected the resilient nature of those living in the challenging mountain terrain of the Alps. During the late 18th century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or small-scale trade, moving between isolated valley villages to sustain their livelihoods. As the family established itself in the Tyrol, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the parish life and community governance that defined rural Austrian society at the time. Over the generations, the name remained concentrated in these high-altitude regions, serving as a marker of their long-standing connection to the history and culture of the Austrian heartland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
durus
Latin term meaning hard, tough, or enduring.
This name
DurA descriptive nickname for a person who was physically or mentally resilient and stern.
also spelled
Dur
Dure
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
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien im Hochstift Bamberg, 1765
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
