A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lackner family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4850 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une grue au nat., le vol levé; au 2 d'or à deux flèches accostées au nat.; au 3 de sa. à la fasce ondée d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: la grue, entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'arg. sur sa., à sen. d'or sur azur, chaque aile ch. d'une flèche au nat. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lackner arms are recorded
The Lackner arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Lackner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Lackner Family in Germany
The surname Lackner is a topographical name that originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly within the mountainous landscapes of Bavaria and Austria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "Lache," which refers to a small pond, a marshy area, or a boundary marker. Families who lived near these distinct geographical features were often identified by their neighbors as people who lived at the "Lack," or the pond. By the time records confirm the presence of the Lackner family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already been established for generations as a way to describe a family's connection to their specific plot of land. Because these early ancestors lived in rural areas, they were likely farmers or foresters who relied on the local terrain for their livelihood. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of a person's home into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through the generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
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)
“Tranché d'or sur azur; à la bande ondée d'arg., br. sur le tranché. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, l'aile dextre aux armes de l'écu, l'aile sen. taillée d'or sur azur, à la barre ondée d'arg., br. sur le taillé. L.: d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Lackner arms are recorded
The Lackner 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 Lackner 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 Germany when the Lackner 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 Lackner Family in Austria
The surname Lackner is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on where they lived. In the German language, the term "Lache" or "Lacke" refers to a small pool of water, a pond, or a marshy area. Therefore, the name was likely first used to identify a family that lived near a distinct body of water or a wetland in the alpine landscape. By the time records place the family in the Tyrol region in 1772, the name had become well-established as a hereditary surname. During this era, life in the mountainous terrain of Tyrol was defined by small-scale farming and forestry. Families like the Lackners often lived in isolated homesteads, and their name served as a practical way for neighbors and local officials to distinguish them from other clans in the same valley. Over generations, this name became a permanent marker of their identity as they contributed to the rural development and cultural history of the Austrian Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lache
A small pool, pond, or a stream of water.
This name
LacknerAn occupational surname for someone who lived near a small pond or stream.
also spelled
Lakner
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903