A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsasser family of Austria.
Reg. 7284 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à un homme iss., hab. de sa., ceint d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet du sec., retr. d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à la bande d'or. C.: l'homme iss., entre deux prob. de sa., celle à dextre ch. d'une bande d'or et celle à sen. d'une barre du même, chaque prob. ornée dans son embouchure de trois plumes de paon au nat.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Elsasser Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Elsasser arms are recorded
The Elsasser 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 Elsasser 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 Elsasser 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 Elsasser Family in Austria
The surname Elsasser is a topographic name that identifies a person who originated from the Alsace region, which is a territory located along the border of modern-day France and Germany. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted names based on their place of birth or their ancestral home when they migrated to new areas. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the Elsasser family were firmly established in the Tyrol region of the Alps. This suggests that the family had moved from their namesake territory in the west to the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, likely seeking new opportunities in trade or agriculture. As they settled in these alpine communities, they maintained the name as a way to honor their geographic roots while becoming integrated into the local culture and economy of the Austrian Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alsatia
The Latin name for the Alsace region located in modern-day France.
This name
ElsasserA person who originated from the Alsace region.
also spelled
Elsasser
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
knightChivalry and service in arms
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
knightChivalry and service in arms
