Map of Austria showing where the Farber arms are recorded
The Farber arms were recorded in Styria, c. 1772.
Styria was mountain and forest country in southern Austria, with iron in its hills. Mining and landholding both made money, and families who held either kind of property took arms to seal their papers with.
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
Styria
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Farber 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 Farber 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 Styria.
Origin & History of the Farber Family in Austria
The surname Farber is an occupational name that originated in German-speaking regions, specifically derived from the Middle High German word *varwer*, which means a dyer. During the medieval period, individuals who worked with pigments and textiles were essential to local economies, as they were responsible for coloring the fabrics used for clothing and trade. By the time ancestors of the family were documented in the region of Styria in 1772, the name had become a well-established identifier for families involved in the craft of dyeing or cloth production. Living in Styria, a mountainous area known for its historical trade routes and agricultural output, these early family members likely operated within the guild systems that governed skilled labor at the time. The name reflects a time when a person’s professional identity was often synonymous with their family legacy, marking them as skilled artisans who contributed to the material culture of their community.
Farber Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
farb
Germanic term referring to color, dye, or pigment.
This name
FarberAn occupational surname for a dyer of cloth or a painter.
also spelled
Farber von Nechelheim
Farber zu Nechelheim
Farber de Nekelheim
Farber
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, Styrian Census Records (Steiermärkische Steuer- und Konskriptionsunterlagen), 1772
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
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
