A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gordan family of Austria.
Reg. 7979 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à un pélican naiss. d'arg., avec sa piété de gu., mouv. du coupé et acc. de trois étoiles d'or, rangées en chef; au 2 d'arg. à un brandon de sa. posé en fasce, écoté de cinq pièces, trois en haut et deux en bas, allumé de gu. dans ces cinq endroits, ainsi qu'au bout dextre, les trois flammes supérieures pénétrant dans le 1 et touchant au corps et aux ailes du pélican. C.: le pélican naiss., mouv. du brandon allumé en fasce, et surm. d'une étoile d'or; entre deux prob. coupées, à”
Austriac. 1597
Where the Gordan Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Gordan arms are recorded
The Gordan arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1597.
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
1597
Granting Authority for the Gordan 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 Gordan 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 Gordan Family in Austria
The family name Gordan has deep roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1597. During this period, Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture between the Italian peninsula and the German-speaking lands. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit alpine communities where they relied on agriculture, forestry, and local craftsmanship to survive the harsh winters. Because the name appears in regional documents from the late sixteenth century, it is likely that the Gordan family was well-established within the local social structure of the time. They were part of a resilient population that navigated the complex political and religious changes occurring across Central Europe during the late Renaissance. By maintaining their presence in the Tyrolean valleys, the early generations of the Gordan family helped shape the unique cultural identity of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gordianus
Derived from the Latin name referring to the city of Gordium.
This name
GordanA locational surname indicating ancestral origins from the ancient Phrygian capital city.
also spelled
Gordon
Related arms
Gordonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1597
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fireZeal and purification
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fireZeal and purification
