A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ganger family of Austria.
Reg. 1334 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
axeThe execution of military duty
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 tranché de sa. sur or; à une hache d'arg., posée en pal, br. sur le tranché, celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 coupé d'arg. sur sa.; à un sanglier naiss. au nat., br. sur le coupé, celui du 3 cont. Cq. cour. C.: le sanglier du 2, iss.; entre un vol, d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Ganger Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Ganger arms are recorded
The Ganger 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 Ganger 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 Ganger 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 Ganger Family in Austria
The surname Ganger finds its historical roots in the rugged Alpine landscapes of the Tyrol region, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1772. The name is generally classified as an occupational or topographic surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "gang," which refers to a path, a mountain pass, or the act of walking. In the mountainous terrain of the Austrian and Italian Alps, such a name often identified individuals who lived near a specific trail or those who worked as guides through the difficult mountain passes. By the late 18th century, the Ganger family was deeply integrated into the local agrarian and village life of the region, where they contributed to the unique cultural and linguistic traditions of the Tyrolean people. Their presence in these high-altitude communities suggests a long history of resilience and adaptation to the challenging environment of the Eastern Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gang
A path, passage, or the act of walking or going.
This name
GangerAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a messenger or a pathfinder.
also spelled
Gaengerz
Ganger
Gaengere
Genger
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
axeThe execution of military duty
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
axeThe execution of military duty
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
