A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerstle family of Austria.
Reg. 8971 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à deux épis d'or, tigés et feuillés de sin., posés sur une terrasse du même.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Gerstle Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Gerstle arms are recorded
The Gerstle arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1772.
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 Gerstle 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 Gerstle 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 Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Gerstle Family in Austria
The surname Gerstle is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, likely originating as a diminutive form of the Middle High German word for barley. In the context of the late eighteenth century, the family was well-established within the mountainous landscape of Tyrol. By 1772, records indicate that members of the Gerstle family were active participants in the local economy and social structure of this alpine region. During this period, the family likely lived as part of a tightly knit community where surnames often reflected agricultural ties or specific geographic locations. As the family navigated life in the Tyrol, they contributed to the unique cultural tapestry of the area, which served as a vital crossroads for trade and travel between the Italian peninsula and the northern German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerste
A German term referring to the cereal grain barley.
This name
GerstleAn occupational name for a grower or merchant of barley.
also spelled
Gerstle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
