A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Perner family of Austria.
Reg. 1896 · Austrian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à trois poires mal-ordonnées d'or, les queues en bas; le champ chapé-ployé d'arg., à deux croix pattées alésées de sa. Cq. cour. C.: un vol coupé, à dextre d'azur sur or, à sen. de sa. sur arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Perner arms are recorded
The Perner 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 Perner 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 Perner 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 Perner Family in Austria
The surname Perner is deeply rooted in the Alpine regions of Central Europe, with significant historical ties to the Tyrol area by the late 18th century. Etymologically, the name is often associated with the Middle High German word "perner," which historically referred to someone who worked with or sold grain, or perhaps a person who lived near a specific type of mill. By 1772, families bearing this name were well-established within the social and economic fabric of the Tyrolean landscape, likely serving as farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant transition in the Habsburg Empire, where families were increasingly documented in parish registers and local tax records to track population growth and land ownership. This period of stability allowed the Perner name to become a recognized part of the local community, reflecting the hardworking traditions of mountain life in the Eastern Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and brave or hardy.
This name
PernerA topographic or occupational name referring to someone living near a pear tree or a pear grower.
also spelled
Piernerr
Pyerner
Piernerh
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
Kranzmayer, Eberhard, Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten, 1956
cross symbolChristian faith and service
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
cross symbolChristian faith and service
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
