A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graben family of Austria.
Reg. 7083 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une bèche d'arg., le fer en haut. C.: la bèche, sommée de trois plumes de paon au nat.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Graben Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Graben arms are recorded
The Graben 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 Graben 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 Graben 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 Graben Family in Austria
The surname Graben is a topographic name that originated from the Middle High German word "grabe," which translates to a ditch, trench, or moat. Families who carried this name often lived near a defensive trench, a canal, or a sunken road, which served as a landmark for their community. By the time members of the family were documented in the Tyrol region in 1772, the name had already been established for generations as a way to identify people by their local geography. In the rugged landscape of the Alps, these early settlers likely worked as farmers or tradespeople who relied on the natural terrain for their livelihood. As the family grew, the name spread through the mountain valleys, reflecting a deep connection to the land and the specific physical features of their home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graba
Old High German term referring to a pit, ditch, or trench.
This name
GrabenA topographic name for someone who lived near a ditch, trench, or moat.
also spelled
Grabe
Graban
Grabbene
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
