A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lang family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 9202 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur gu.; à deux flèches passées en saut., d'arg. sur l'azur et d'or sur le gu.; cant. de quatre étoiles, d'arg. sur l'azur et d'or sur le gu. Cq. cour. C.: une patte de lion d'arg., tenant les flèches de l'écu, accompagnées en haut d'une étoile d'arg. et en bas d'une étoile d'or. L.: de gu. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1745
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Map of Germany showing where the Lang arms are recorded
The Lang arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1745.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Lang 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Lang Family in Germany
The surname Lang originated in the Germanic regions as a descriptive nickname for a person of tall stature. In the Middle Ages, people often received surnames based on physical traits, and the Middle High German word *lanc* served as the direct root for this identification. By the time the family was documented in Bavaria in 1745, the name had already been established for centuries across various social classes, ranging from rural farmers to skilled tradespeople. Because Bavaria was a region defined by strong local traditions and village-based record keeping, families with this name often stayed within specific geographic areas for generations. This stability allowed the name to become deeply embedded in the local culture, reflecting both the physical characteristics of early ancestors and the linguistic evolution of the German language.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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, au chef d'azur ch. de trois étoiles d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un senestrochère, paré de gu., mouv. du flanc, la main de”
StyriaStyria, c. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Lang arms are recorded
The Lang arms were recorded in Styria, c. 1772.
Styria was mountain and forest country in southern Austria, with iron in its hills. Mining and landholding both made money, and families who held either kind of property took arms to seal their papers with.
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
Styria
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Lang 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 Lang 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 Styria.
Origin & History of the Lang Family in Austria
The surname Lang has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, functioning originally as a descriptive nickname for a person of tall stature. By the time the family established a documented presence in the Austrian province of Styria in 1772, the name had already been in use for several centuries as a way to distinguish individuals within growing rural communities. During this period, the Styrian region was a vital part of the Habsburg Monarchy, and families like the Langs were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. As record-keeping became more standardized under the reforms of Empress Maria Theresa, the family name became permanently fixed in parish registers and tax documents. These records show that the Langs were typical of the hardworking provincial population that helped shape the social and economic landscape of the Austrian countryside during the late eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la barre d'arg., ch. d'une pique d'or, posée dans le sens de la barre; celle-ci côtoyée en chef de deux étoiles d'or et en p. d'une fleur-de-lis du même. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, au rabat d'or, tenant de sa main dextre une pique d'or en pal, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBaden Argovie, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Lang arms are recorded
The Lang arms were recorded in Baden Argovie, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Lang Family in Switzerland
The surname Lang is a descriptive name that originated in the Germanic regions of Europe, where it was traditionally used to identify someone who was notably tall. In the context of Switzerland, the name became well-established across various cantons as families settled into agrarian and trade-based communities. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Lang family were living in the region of Baden, which was then a significant center for commerce and local governance. These early ancestors were likely integrated into the social fabric of the Aargau region, participating in the local economy and contributing to the development of their community. Because the name was based on a common physical trait, it emerged independently in several places, allowing the Lang family to build a long-standing presence in Swiss history through their work as farmers, craftsmen, and local citizens.
Lang Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
langus
A Proto-Germanic adjective meaning long or tall.
This name
LangA descriptive nickname for a person of tall stature or long limbs.
also spelled
Lange
Langue
Laing
Related arms
Lehmannsimilar arms
Olivasimilar arms
Laingvariant spelling
Imthurnrecorded with Lang, same area
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903