A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hölder family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2241 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 coupé de gu. sur arg., à un tournesol d'or, tigé et feuillé de sin., br. sur le coupé et soutenu d'un mont de sin.; au 2 d'azur à une rivière d'arg., posée en barre ondée, acc. de trois étoiles d'or, 2 en chef à dextre, rangées en barre, et 1 en p. à sen. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion iss. et cont., fascé d'arg. et de gu. de six pièces, arm. et lamp. d'or; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° une aigle iss. de sa., bq. d'or, languée de gu.; 1. d'arg. et d'azur. D.: IMMER VORAN.”
AustriaVienne, c. 1881
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Map of Austria showing where the Hölder arms are recorded
The Hölder arms were recorded in Vienne, c. 1881.
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
Vienne
Town
Vienne
First recorded
1881
Granting Authority for the Hölder Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Austria when the Hölder 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 Hölder Family in Austria
The surname Hölder finds its roots in the German language, where it is traditionally linked to the Middle High German word "halde," meaning a hillside or a slope. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely lived near a prominent incline or a steep piece of farmland. By the time the name appeared in official records in Vienna during 1881, the family had integrated into the bustling urban landscape of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During this era, Vienna was a center of rapid growth and cultural change, attracting many families from rural regions to the capital for new professional opportunities. As the Hölder family established themselves in the city, they became part of the vibrant middle-class life that defined late nineteenth-century Austria. Their presence in the city archives during this period reflects a time when families were increasingly documented through civil registrations and city directories as the empire modernized its record-keeping systems.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a fesse dancettée betw. three griffins pass. wings endorsed or”
CambridgeCambridge, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Hölder arms are recorded
The Hölder arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1620.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Austria when the Hölder arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Hölder Family in England
The family name Hölder, which likely originated from German-speaking regions as a descriptive term for a woodcutter or someone who holds land, began to appear in English historical records during the early seventeenth century. By 1620, members of the family were established in Cambridge, a period when the city was a thriving center of academic and religious life. These early settlers were likely part of the migration patterns that brought skilled tradespeople and scholars to university towns during the reign of King James I. While the name remained relatively rare in England compared to its prevalence in continental Europe, these early Cambridge residents contributed to the local community through their work and daily interactions. Their presence in such a prominent intellectual hub suggests that the family was integrated into the social fabric of the town during a time of significant cultural change. By settling in Cambridge, the Hölder family became part of the diverse population that helped shape the city’s development during the early modern era.
Hölder Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Hold
Derived from the Germanic term for gracious, friendly, or loyal.
This name
HölderRefers to a person who is kind, gracious, or holds a loyal disposition.
also spelled
Hoelder
Holdar
Holdor
Related arms
Houldervariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchiv, Meldeunterlagen 1850–1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
