A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerstenkorn family of Austria.
Reg. 9199 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Tranché: au 1 de gu. à un faisceau de trois épis feuillés d'or. posés en bande; au 2 d'azur à un terrain au nat. sur le devant, et une rivière au nat. en fasce dans le fond, de laquelle s'élève un mont de trois coupeaux d'arg. A la bande d'or, br. sur le tranché et ch. d'une épée de sa., posée dans le sens de la bande. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un vol cont., l'aile de derrière de sa. plein, l'aile de devant d'or, ch. d'une épée de sa. en pal: 1. d'or et de sa.; 2º un chevalier iss., arm. de toutes pièces au nat., le casque panaché de trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de gu., tenant de sa main dextre trois épis feuillés d'or, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche; l. d'or et de gu.”
Austriac. 1883
Where the Gerstenkorn Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Gerstenkorn arms are recorded
The Gerstenkorn arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1883.
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
1883
Granting Authority for the Gerstenkorn Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Austria when the Gerstenkorn 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 Gerstenkorn Family in Austria
The surname Gerstenkorn is a German occupational name that translates literally to "barley grain." In the Middle Ages, names were often derived from the crops a family grew or the goods they traded, suggesting that the earliest ancestors of this lineage were likely farmers or grain merchants. By the late 19th century, records confirm that the family had established a strong presence in the Tyrol region of the Alps. This mountainous area was a crossroads for trade between northern and southern Europe, which likely influenced the family's movement and economic activities. As the family settled in these alpine valleys, they became part of a distinct regional culture that valued agricultural resilience and community ties. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of a trade into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerste and Korn
Barley and grain or seed derived from Germanic linguistic origins.
This name
GerstenkornAn occupational or topographic name for a grower or merchant of barley grain.
also spelled
Gerstenkorn
Honau
Gerstenkorn de Ronau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kohl, Wilhelm, Tiroler Familiennamen, 1985
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Standesauskünfte und Personenstandsregister, 1883
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
swordJustice, and military honour
