A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Parr family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4380 · Austrian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'arg. à deux fasces d'azur; à la bord. engr. de sa. C.: un buste de femme, hab. d'azur ou d'herm., cour. de roses alt. d'arg. et de gu., ou cour. à l'antique d'or. S.: à dextre un cerf d'or, à sen. un dragon d'azur. D.: AMOUR AVECQUE LOIAULTÉ.”
Austriac. 1546
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Parr arms are recorded
The Parr arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1546.
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
1546
Granting Authority for the Parr Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Austria when the Parr 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 Parr Family in Austria
The history of the Parr family in Austria is deeply tied to the mountainous region of Tyrol, where members of the family were officially documented as early as 1546. During this period, the family began to rise in social and political prominence, transitioning from local landowners into influential figures within the Habsburg administration. They were known for their strategic marriages and their ability to acquire significant estates, which allowed them to integrate into the higher circles of Austrian society. By settling in the rugged landscape of the Alps, the Parrs became essential participants in the regional governance and economic development of the area. Their presence in Tyrol served as a foundation for their future expansion across the Austrian Empire, where they eventually held important positions of power and influence for several centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. two bars az. within a bordure engr. sa”
LancasterKempnall · Lancaster, c. 1567
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Parr arms are recorded
The Parr arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1567.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in Austria when the Parr arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Parr Family in England
The surname Parr is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English word "parr," which described an enclosed piece of land or a park used for keeping animals. By the time the family was firmly established in the Lancashire region during the sixteenth century, the name was already deeply tied to the local landscape. Records from 1567 confirm that members of the Parr family were active residents in Lancaster, where they lived as part of the growing community in the northwest of England. During this era, families often took their names from the small manors or hamlets where they resided, and the Parrs likely held land near the town of Parr in the parish of Prescot before spreading into the wider Lancashire area. This connection to the geography of the region helped define their social standing and identity as they integrated into the local economy and parish life of the late Tudor period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Parre
Middle High German term for a parish or a church district.
This name
ParrAn occupational or habitational name for someone who lived within a specific parish boundary.
also spelled
Par
Parra
Parrie
Related arms
Birkenheadrecorded with Parr, same area
Foresterrecorded with Parr, same area
Fosterrecorded with Parr, same area
David ap Griffithrecorded with Parr, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Huter, Franz. Tiroler Urkundenbuch. 1937
Wurzbach, Constant von. Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich. 1870
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Adelsarchiv der Grafen von Parr
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
