A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feuerstein family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9795 · Austrian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un bouquetin ramp. de sa., tenant entre ses pattes un briquet d'azur en forme de croiss. tourné et soutenu d'un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le bouquetin iss., entre un vol d'or.”
Austriac. 1559
Where the Feuerstein Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Feuerstein arms are recorded
The Feuerstein arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1559.
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
1559
Granting Authority for the Feuerstein Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
1556–1564
Reigning in Austria when the Feuerstein 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 Feuerstein Family in Austria
The surname Feuerstein originated as a descriptive name in the mountainous regions of the Austrian Alps. The name translates literally to flint, which was a vital tool for survival in the rugged terrain of Tyrol during the sixteenth century. By 1559, records confirm that families bearing this name were well established in the Tyrolean landscape. Because the name relates to a hard, spark-producing stone, it likely identified ancestors who worked as blacksmiths, miners, or flint knappers. These early Feuersteins lived in a society defined by high-altitude agriculture and the control of important mountain trade routes. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and tax documents, reflecting their integration into the social and economic fabric of the Austrian provinces.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. au lion d'or, soutenu d'un tertre de sin., le lion tenant de sa patte dextre un silex et de sa sen. un briquet d'acier. C.: le lion, iss. L. d'or et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Feuerstein Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Feuerstein arms are recorded
The Feuerstein arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Feuerstein Family in Switzerland
The surname Feuerstein, which translates literally to "flint" or "firestone," likely originated as a descriptive name for an ancestor who worked with stone or perhaps someone who lived near a rocky outcrop. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Feuerstein family were integrated into the urban life of the region during a time when Basel was a thriving center for trade and craftsmanship. As the name suggests a connection to the raw materials of the earth, it is probable that early family members were involved in masonry, tool sharpening, or the production of early ignition devices. Their presence in Basel suggests they were part of the growing middle class that helped sustain the city's reputation for industry and stability during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fuer-Stein
Fire and stone or rock.
This name
FeuersteinA topographic name for someone living near a flint deposit or a maker of fire-starting tools.
also spelled
Feuerstine
Feuersteyn
Foyerstine
Firestone
Related arms
Feursteinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kuen, Franz Anton, Tiroler Geschlechterbuch, 1760
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Verzeichnisse der Tiroler Landstände, 1559
Zingerle, Ignaz Vinzenz, Sitten, Bräuche und Meinungen des Tiroler Volkes, 1857
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
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
fireZeal and purification
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
fireZeal and purification
lionCourage, strength and royalty
