A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Helfen family of Austria.
Reg. 8453 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 tiercé en chev. de gu., d'or et de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une aigle de profil de sa., cour. d'or, le vol levé, tenant en son bec une bague d'or. Sur le tout de gu. à un éléphant d'arg., portant sur son dos une tour d'or. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° une pointe de sa., bordée d'or; 2° les meubles du surtout; 3° le meuble du 2. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
StyriaStyria, c. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Helfen arms are recorded
The Helfen arms were recorded in Styria, c. 1772.
Styria was mountain and forest country in southern Austria, with iron in its hills. Mining and landholding both made money, and families who held either kind of property took arms to seal their papers with.
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
Styria
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Helfen 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 Helfen 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 Styria.
Origin & History of the Helfen Family in Austria
The surname Helfen is rooted in the German language, likely originating from the Middle High German word *helfen*, which means to help or to assist. Historically, such names were often descriptive nicknames given to individuals who were known for their kindness, their role as a community helper, or perhaps their service in a local guild or parish. By 1772, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Styria, which is located in modern-day Austria. During this period, Styria was a significant part of the Habsburg Monarchy, and families like the Helfens were often tied to the land through agriculture or skilled trades. Life in the eighteenth-century Styrian countryside was shaped by the local church and the seasonal demands of the harvest, and the Helfen family would have been part of this tight-knit social structure. As the family grew, they contributed to the local history of the region by participating in the daily economic and social life of their villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
helfan
Old High German verb meaning to assist, support, or provide aid.
This name
HelfenAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to a helpful person or a benefactor.
also spelled
Helfenberg
Helffenburg
Helfen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kranzmayer, Eberhard. Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten. 1956
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
