A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Oberholzer family of Austria.
Reg. 1644 · Austrian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de sa. à une chaine de trois chainons d'arg., en pal; au 2 de gu. à un taureau naiss. de sa. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, de gu. et de sa., chaque aile ch. de la chaine du 1. L.: à dextre de gu. et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Oberholzer arms are recorded
The Oberholzer 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 Oberholzer 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 Oberholzer 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 Oberholzer Family in Austria
The surname Oberholzer is a topographical name that originated in the German-speaking regions of the Alps. It is derived from the words "ober," meaning upper or higher, and "holz," meaning wood or forest. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near or managed a forest located at a higher elevation than their neighbors. By the year 1772, historical records confirm that the family was well-established in the Tyrol region. During this period, families with this name were often involved in forestry, agriculture, or the timber trade, which were essential industries for mountain communities. As people moved through the valleys of the Alps, the name spread across the landscape, marking the family as inhabitants of the high woodlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ober-Holz
Upper wood or forest area located at a higher elevation.
This name
OberholzerRefers to a person who lived or worked at an upper forest.
also spelled
Oberholtz
Overholz
Oberholzer
Oberholts
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
Kuhn, Walter, Die Siedlungsgeschichte der Deutschen in den Alpen, 1954
bullValour and generosity
bullValour and generosity
