A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hochberg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9991 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 d'arg. au lion d'or, cour. du même, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 coupé: a. de gu. à un tertre de trois coupeaux d'azur, mouv. du coupé; b. échiq. de gu. et d'arg. Sur le tout un écusson d'or, timbré d'une couronne princière, et ch d'une aigle ép. de sa., bq. et m. du champ, surm. d'une couronne impériale et portant sur sa poitrine un petit écusson de gu. à la fasce d'arg., surch. de la lettre L de sa. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin., entre deux truites renv. d'arg., les têtes en bas, ornées chacune à l'ext. de trois pl. d'aut., celles à dextre de gu., d'arg. et de gu., celles à sen. d'arg., de gu. et d'arg.; 2° l'aigle du surtout, surm. de la couronne impériale; 3° le lion du 4. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1650
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Map of Germany showing where the Hochberg arms are recorded
The Hochberg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1650.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Germany when the Hochberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Hochberg Family in Germany
The surname Hochberg is a topographic name that reflects the geography of the German landscape. In the German language, the name translates to high mountain or high hill, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent elevated area. By the year 1650, records confirm that members of the Hochberg family were established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, Bavaria was recovering from the immense social and economic upheaval caused by the Thirty Years' War. Families like the Hochbergs were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trades, and they frequently moved within regional borders to find stability in the aftermath of the conflict. Because the name describes a specific physical feature, it likely emerged independently in different locations where families lived near high ground, marking them as people of the hills.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'or à un tertre de trois coupeaux de gu., sommé d'une étoile de sa. C.: l'étoile. L. de gu. et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Hochberg arms are recorded
The Hochberg 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 Hochberg 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 Germany when the Hochberg 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 Hochberg Family in Austria
The surname Hochberg originates from the German language and translates literally to high mountain or high hill. This descriptive name suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent peak or on elevated terrain. By 1772, records confirm that members of the Hochberg family were well-established in the Tyrol region of Austria. During this period, Tyrol was a mountainous area known for its rugged landscape and strong local traditions. Families living in these high-altitude environments often relied on agriculture, forestry, or trade routes that connected the Austrian Alps to neighboring regions. The presence of the name in Tyrol indicates that the family was deeply integrated into the social and economic life of the Alpine valleys long before the modern era. As the family grew, they remained connected to the geography that inspired their name, reflecting a history rooted in the challenging but beautiful terrain of the Austrian mountains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hoch and berg
High or tall and a mountain or hill.
This name
HochbergRefers to a person who lived on or near a high mountain or hill.
also spelled
Hockberg
Hochburg
Hochbergh
Hekberg
Hokberg
Related arms
Borosini de Hohensternsimilar arms
Geldermayr de Gelderhofensimilar arms
Gotthal de Gotthaloveczsimilar arms
Hochburgvariant spelling
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
