A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gera family of Austria.
Reg. 5308 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à une fourche de gu., soutenue d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sa., les dents en haut (Gera); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une ramure de cerf de sa., chaque bois ch. d'une fasce d'or (Scödel). Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º les meubles du 1, entre un vol coupé, à dextre de sa. sur or, à sen. de gu. sur arg.; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2º une femme iss., hab. d'or, cour. du même, sommée de la ramure du 2; l. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1590
Where the Gera Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Gera arms are recorded
The Gera arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1590.
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
1590
Granting Authority for the Gera Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Austria when the Gera 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 Gera Family in Austria
The family name Gera carries a deep connection to the Alpine region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1590. During this era, the name was closely linked to the rugged landscape of the Eastern Alps, a territory defined by its strategic mountain passes and shifting political borders between German and Italian influences. Families in this region often derived their surnames from specific geographic features or local settlements, and the name Gera likely reflects this long-standing tie to the land. As the family grew, they became part of the distinct social fabric of the Tyrol, participating in the agricultural and trade-based economy that sustained mountain communities for centuries. By maintaining a presence in this area during the late sixteenth century, the early Gera family helped shape the local culture and regional identity that defines the history of the Tyrol today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GeraA topographic name for someone living near a spear-shaped piece of land.
also spelled
Gerah
Gerra
Gerae
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1590
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Obermair, Hannes, Bozen Süd – Bolzano Nord: Schriftlichkeit und urkundliche Überlieferung der Stadt Bozen bis 1500, 2005
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
