A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lefler family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9832 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de gu. à deux chev. d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une outarde au nat., posée sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: l'outarde entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Lefler arms are recorded
The Lefler 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 Lefler 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 Lefler 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 Lefler Family in Austria
The family name Lefler has deep roots in the rugged landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1772. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word *leffel*, which translates to spoon. In medieval times, this was often an occupational surname given to a person who crafted wooden utensils or served as a ladle maker. Living in the mountainous Tyrol region, these early family members were likely part of a community that relied on the abundant timber from the Alpine forests to create essential household goods. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local social fabric of the region, contributing to the agricultural and craft-based economy that defined life in the Austrian Alps during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 deux banderoles, attachées à deux lances de tournoi, passées en saut., soutenues d'un tertre, le tout de sa. C.: une banderole de l'écu; entre deux prob., coupées alt. d'or et de sa.”
GermanyKempten Bav, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lefler arms are recorded
The Lefler arms were recorded in Kempten Bav, c. 1765.
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 Austria when the Lefler 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 Lefler Family in Germany
The surname Lefler finds its roots in the linguistic landscape of southern Germany, where it evolved as a descriptive occupational name. Historically, the name is linked to the Middle High German term *leffel*, which translates to a spoon or a ladle. This suggests that early ancestors were likely skilled woodworkers or craftsmen who specialized in carving household utensils. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of Kempten, located in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. During this era, Kempten was a bustling center of trade and religious governance, providing a stable environment for families to settle and pass down their trade. Members of the Lefler family living there in 1765 were part of a long tradition of German artisans whose professional identities became permanently woven into their family name.
Lefler Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Löffler
A maker or seller of spoons.
This name
LeflerAn occupational surname for a craftsman who manufactured wooden or metal spoons.
also spelled
Loeffler
Lofler
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Tauf-, Heirats- und Sterbebücher
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Grundsteuerkataster der gefürsteten Grafschaft Tirol
Kranzmayer, Eberhard, Ortsnamenbuch von Österreich, 1956
Schweizer, Karl, Tiroler Familiennamen im Wandel der Zeit, 1988
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
