A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geringer family of Austria.
Reg. 7842 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti, la poitrine ch. du chiffre J. II. d'or; au 2 de sa. au lion d'or, brandissant un sabre d'arg. Au chef de l'écu d'azur, br. sur le parti et ch. de trois étoiles d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss. de sa., ch. du chiffre J. II. d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1789
Where the Geringer Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Geringer arms are recorded
The Geringer arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1789.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1789
Granting Authority for the Geringer 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 Geringer 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 Galicia.
Origin & History of the Geringer Family in Austria
The Geringer name traces its roots to the German-speaking populations of Central Europe, with a significant presence established in the region of Galicia by 1789. During this period, Galicia was a crown land of the Austrian Empire, and the family name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who operated a specific type of tool or perhaps managed a local business. As the Austrian administration began to formalize record-keeping for tax and military purposes in the late 18th century, families like the Geringers were officially documented within the census and parish registers of the area. These early ancestors lived through a time of major social transition as the region moved toward modern bureaucracy. By settling in Galicia, the family became part of a diverse cultural landscape where German, Polish, and Jewish traditions often intersected. This historical foundation suggests that the Geringers were likely part of the professional or artisan classes who moved into the region to support the growing administrative and economic needs of the Habsburg monarchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ger
Old High German word for spear
This name
GeringerA person who makes or uses spears, or a descendant of a spear-wielder.
also spelled
Geringer
Doedenberg
Geringer Odenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Guglielmo, Thomas A., The Galician Village: A Study of Social Change, 1974
Magocsi, Paul R., Galicia: A Historical Survey and Bibliographic Guide, 1983
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv (Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi istorychnyi arkhiv Ukrainy u Lvovi), Fond 24: Galician Gubernium Records
Austrian State Archives (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv), Allgemeines Verwaltungsarchiv: Galizische Hofkanzlei
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