A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elberg family of Austria.
Reg. 7700 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à un olivier au nat., sur un tertre de sin.; au 2 de gu. à une ancre d'or. Au chef de l'écu d'azur, br. sur le parti et ch. de trois étoiles (8) d'or. Deux cq. cour C.: 1° trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'azur; 1. d'or et d'azur; 2° trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de gu.; 1. d'or et de gu.”
AustriaTransylvanie, c. 1864
Where the Elberg Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Elberg arms are recorded
The Elberg arms were recorded in Transylvanie, c. 1864.
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
Town
Transylvanie
First recorded
1864
Granting Authority for the Elberg Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Austria when the Elberg 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 Elberg Family in Austria
The surname Elberg is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely functioned as a topographic name. In the German language, the prefix "El" often relates to alder trees, while "berg" translates to mountain or hill. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have lived near a prominent, alder-covered slope or ridge. By 1864, official records confirm that members of the family were established in the Tyrol region, a mountainous area spanning parts of modern-day Austria and Italy. During this period, families in the Alps were often tied closely to the land, and their surnames frequently reflected the specific geography of their homesteads. As the family moved through the nineteenth century, they remained part of the distinct cultural landscape of the Tyrol, contributing to the local agricultural and social life of the mountain communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
El-Berg
Old High German for noble or foreign combined with mountain or hill.
This name
ElbergA topographic name for someone who lived near a noble mountain or a mountain of foreign origin.
also spelled
Oelburg
Oelberk
Elberg
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
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Standesauskünfte und Zivilstandsregister, 1864
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
