A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goldenstein family of Austria.
Reg. 4228 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“un ciel d'azur, une grue au nat. avec sa vigilance d'or, sur un rocher du même; le champ chapé-ployé: à dextre d'or à une demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du champ; à sen. d'arg. au lion de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un lion assis d'or, posé de front, tenant de sa patte dextre une banderole fascée de sa. et d'or, de six pièces, et de sa sen. une banderole fascée de gu. et d'arg., de six pièces. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Goldenstein Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Goldenstein arms are recorded
The Goldenstein 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 Goldenstein 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 Goldenstein 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 Goldenstein Family in Austria
The surname Goldenstein is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, combining the words for gold and stone to describe a location or a person’s association with a specific place. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the alpine region of Tyrol, a territory known for its rugged mountains and complex history of trade between Central Europe and Italy. Records from 1772 confirm that members of the family were living in this area during a time when local populations were often defined by their craft, their land ownership, or their proximity to significant geographic landmarks. As the family navigated the social shifts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the name likely served as a marker of their identity within the tight-knit mountain communities of the Tyrol province. This period was characterized by a transition toward more formal record-keeping, which allowed families like the Goldensteins to solidify their presence in local parish registers and regional administrative documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Goldstein
Germanic origin referring to gold or a golden stone.
This name
GoldensteinAn occupational or habitational name denoting someone associated with gold or living at a house named Golden Stone.
also spelled
Kranich
Goldenstein
Kranich-Goldenstein
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kranzmayer, Eberhard. Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten. 1956
Zoder, Rudolf. Familiennamen in Ostösterreich. 1971
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster
Diözesanarchiv Innsbruck, Matriken der Pfarreien
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
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
