A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kalkhoff family of Austria.
Reg. 4464 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'or à la fasce d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: la fasce de l'écu, br. sur un panache de trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'arg. L.: d'or et d'azur. S.: deux cigognes reg. au nat.”
AustriaBade, c. 1794
Where the Kalkhoff Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Kalkhoff arms are recorded
The Kalkhoff arms were recorded in Bade, c. 1794.
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
Town
Bade
First recorded
1794
Granting Authority for the Kalkhoff Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Austria when the Kalkhoff 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 Kalkhoff Family in Austria
The name Kalkhoff is rooted in the landscape and language of the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. The name combines the word Kalk, meaning lime or limestone, with the word Hof, which refers to a farm or a courtyard. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a limestone quarry or on land characterized by lime-rich soil. By 1794, records confirm that the family was established in the Tyrol region, a mountainous area known for its distinct local traditions and history. During this period, families in Tyrol often lived in tight-knit rural communities where their surname served as a clear identifier of their family’s connection to a specific piece of land or a local trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kalk
German word for lime or limestone.
This name
KalkhoffA topographic name for someone living near a lime kiln or a limestone deposit.
also spelled
Kalkhoff
Kalkhofer
Kalkhofe
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
Tyrol State Archives (Tiroler Landesarchiv), Tiroler Standesbeschreibungen und Steuerkataster, 1794
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
