A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hollenbach family of Austria.
Reg. 9583 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ, celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au lion de gu., cour. d'or, celui du 3 cont. Sur le tout un écusson d'azur, cour. d'or et ch. d'un rocher de trois coupeaux escarpés d'arg., mouv. de la p., acc. en chef à dextre d'un soleil d'or et à sen. d'un croiss. tourné d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° l'aigle du 1, iss.; l. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° le lion du 2, iss., tenant entre ses pattes le rocher du surtout; le lion accosté de deux prob. coupées, à dextre d'azur sur or, à sen. de gu. sur arg., celle à dextre ornée dans son embouchure d'un soleil d'or et celle à sen. dans son embouchure d'un croiss. tourné d'arg.; l. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1702
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Hollenbach arms are recorded
The Hollenbach arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1702.
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
1702
Granting Authority for the Hollenbach Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Austria when the Hollenbach 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 Hollenbach Family in Austria
The Hollenbach name originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically emerging from the rugged landscapes of the Tyrol area. The name is locational in nature, likely derived from the combination of the German words "Hohle," meaning a hollow or ravine, and "Bach," meaning a stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near a small valley or a stream bed tucked away in the mountains. By the early 18th century, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Tyrolean region, where they likely worked as farmers, millers, or craftsmen who relied on the local geography for their livelihoods. As these families grew, they maintained a strong connection to the Alpine environment that defined their daily lives and shaped their identity for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hollenbach
Derived from the Middle High German words for hollow and stream.
This name
HollenbachRefers to a person who lived near a stream located in a hollow or valley.
also spelled
Helenbach
Hellenback
Hellenbak
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
