A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fenzl family of Austria.
Reg. 2038 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“Taillé d'or sur sa.; au lion de l'un en l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: un lion coupé de sa. sur or. S.: deux lions d'or.”
Austriac. 1799
Where the Fenzl Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Fenzl arms are recorded
The Fenzl arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1799.
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
1799
Granting Authority for the Fenzl Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Austria when the Fenzl 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 Fenzl Family in Austria
The surname Fenzl is deeply rooted in the Alpine region of Tyrol, where the family was well-established by the late eighteenth century. The name is considered a diminutive form of the Germanic name Lorenz, which evolved through regional dialects into the shortened version Fenz. Over time, the suffix was added to create the specific family name that appeared in local records by 1799. During this period, families in the Tyrolean mountains often lived in small, isolated communities where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or miners. Because the region served as a vital crossroads for trade between Italy and the German states, the Fenzl family likely interacted with diverse cultures while maintaining their strong connection to the local landscape. Their presence in the historical record during this time suggests they were part of the hardworking population that helped shape the social and economic character of the Tyrol province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Venz
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Wenzeslaus meaning glory.
This name
FenzlA topographic or occupational surname referring to a person from a specific region or a variant of Wenzel.
also spelled
Fenzl-Baumgarten
Fenzl zu Grueb
Venzl von Baumgarten
Fentsl fon Baumgarten zu Grub
Fenzl
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kranzmayer, Eberhard, Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten, 1956
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
