A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kifer family of Austria.
Reg. 0623 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 trois roseaux tigés et feuillés au nat., posés sur un tertre d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. L.: à dextre de gu. et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Kifer arms are recorded
The Kifer 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 Kifer 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 Kifer 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 Kifer Family in Austria
The family name Kifer traces its roots to the rugged alpine landscapes of the Tyrol region, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1772. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational or topographic surname, often linked to the German word "Kiefer," which refers to a pine tree. In the mountainous terrain of the Tyrol, families frequently adopted names based on the specific trees or natural landmarks near their homesteads. By the late 18th century, the Kifers were part of a resilient population living in small, tight-knit mountain communities. These early ancestors were likely involved in forestry, agriculture, or trade, adapting their lives to the challenging climate and steep geography of the Eastern Alps. As they moved through the region, the spelling of the name occasionally shifted, but the family remained deeply connected to the cultural traditions of the Tyrolean highlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kiefer
A German occupational term for a maker of wooden barrels or tubs.
This name
KiferAn Austrian variant referring to a cooper or a person who works with pine wood.
also spelled
Khifar
Kifer
Kiefer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
branchPeace, and new growth
lionCourage, strength and royalty
