A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Federle family of Austria.
Reg. 7398 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de sa. à un homme iss., posé de profil, hab. d'arg., tort. du même, mouv. du coupé et tenant de sa main dextre une plume de paon au nat.; au 2 d'or à un dextrochère, paré de sa., la main de carn. empoignant une masse d'armes d'or. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Federle Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Federle arms are recorded
The Federle arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
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
1772
Granting Authority for the Federle 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 Federle 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 Federle Family in Austria
The family name Federle originates from the southern German and Alpine regions, where it developed as a diminutive form of the Middle High German word "feder," meaning feather. In the historical context of the eighteenth century, such names often functioned as nicknames for people who worked with feathers, such as fletchers who made arrows, or perhaps individuals known for their light-footed nature. By 1772, records confirm that members of the Federle family were well-established in the Tyrol region, which was then a central part of the Habsburg Monarchy. During this era, families in the Tyrol were often deeply connected to the local agricultural and artisanal economies of the mountain valleys. As the name spread through these communities, it became a distinct identifier for families living within the rugged landscape of the Eastern Alps, reflecting a long-standing presence in the social and cultural life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Friedrich
Derived from Germanic elements meaning peaceful ruler.
This name
FederleA diminutive form indicating a descendant or person associated with a peaceful ruler.
also spelled
Federli
Federel
Federlee
Related arms
Federlvariant spelling
Federl de Pürekhvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
knightChivalry and service in arms
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
knightChivalry and service in arms
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
