A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenberger family of Austria.
Reg. 0721 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au pal de sa., ch. d'une montagne de sin., mouv. de la p.; au griffon d'or, ailé de gu., soutenu de ladite montagne et br. sur le tout, supp. de sa patte dextre un rocher d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon rampant; entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre d'arg. sur sa., à sen. d'or sur gu. L. conformes aux émaux des prob. - (Chevaliers autrichiens, 19 août 1794) D'or à une montagne de six coupeaux de sin., mouv. de la p. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un griffon iss. et cont. d'or, tenant entre ses pattes la montagne de l'écu: 2° trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de sin. L. d'or et de sin.”
Austriac. 1792
Where the Greenberger Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Greenberger arms are recorded
The Greenberger arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1792.
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
1792
Granting Authority for the Greenberger Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Austria when the Greenberger 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 Greenberger Family in Austria
The surname Greenberger is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is composed of the words "grün," meaning green, and "berg," meaning mountain or hill. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent green hill or a lush, forested mountain range. By 1792, records confirm that members of the Greenberger family were established in the Tyrol region, which is a mountainous area located in the Alps between present-day Austria and Italy. During this period, families in the Tyrol were often tied to the land through agriculture or trade, and their names frequently reflected the distinct natural features of their immediate surroundings. As the family moved or expanded throughout the nineteenth century, the name remained a testament to their deep historical roots in the rugged, alpine landscapes of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grün
German word for the color green or a verdant area.
This name
GreenbergerA topographic name for someone who lived near a green hill or mountain.
also spelled
Grienberg
Greenberger
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Standesbeschreibungen und Steuerkataster, 1792
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
