A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kappus family of Austria.
Reg. 0562 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 un homme, hab. d'azur, coiffé d'un bonnet de gu., tenant un marteau au nat.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un arbre de sin., posé sur un tertre d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de sin.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Kappus arms are recorded
The Kappus 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 Kappus 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 Kappus 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 Kappus Family in Austria
The family name Kappus has deep roots in the Alpine region of Tyrol, where members of the family were documented as early as 1772. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "kappe," which refers to a hooded cloak or a specific type of head covering. In the social structure of the eighteenth-century Tyrol, such names often identified a person by their trade, their physical appearance, or a distinct piece of clothing they wore. Because the region was a crossroads for trade and migration between German and Italian-speaking lands, families like the Kappus often lived in small, tight-knit mountain communities where they played essential roles in local agriculture or craftsmanship. Over generations, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, linking the family to the rugged landscape and the unique cultural traditions of the Tyrolean mountains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cappa
Latin term for a hooded cloak or cape.
This name
KappusAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of hooded cloaks.
also spelled
Kappus
Kappusdepichl
Kapus
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
Kranzmayer, Eberhard. Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten. 1956
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Standesbeschreibungen und Steuerkataster
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
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
