A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gurtner family of Austria.
Reg. 2776 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 bandé d'or et de sa., de quatre pièces; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une licorne ramp. d'or, celle du 3 cont. Cq. cour. C.: la licorne du 2, iss., entre deux prob., celle à sen. aux armes du 1, celle à sen. barrée d'or et d'azur de quatre pièces, ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois plumes de paon au nat.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Gurtner Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Gurtner arms are recorded
The Gurtner 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 Gurtner 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 Gurtner 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 Gurtner Family in Austria
The surname Gurtner originates from the historical regions of the Alps, specifically within the mountainous landscapes of Tyrol. The name is derived from the Middle High German word *gurtner*, which historically referred to a person who worked as a gardener or a small-scale farmer who tended to a specific plot of land. By the late 18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the Tyrolean region, where they were deeply integrated into the local agricultural economy. Life in this rugged terrain required families to be resilient and self-sufficient, as they often managed terraced fields on steep slopes. As the family grew, members likely moved between small mountain villages to trade goods and livestock, helping to spread the name throughout the valleys of the Austrian and Italian borderlands. This connection to the land defined the early identity of the Gurtner family, rooting them firmly in the traditions of alpine rural life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gurt
A belt or girdle, often referring to a belt maker.
This name
GurtnerAn occupational surname for a person who manufactured belts or leather straps.
also spelled
Gurtener
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kranzmayer, Eberhard, Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten, 1956
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
