A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Plagge family of Austria.
Reg. 2415 · Austrian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à une rose de gu.; au 2 d'arg. à trois bandes de gu. C.: un lion iss. d'or, cour. du même, tenant de ses pattes une banderole de gu. ch. d'un pal d'arg., attachée à une lance tort. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Plagge Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Plagge arms are recorded
The Plagge 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 Plagge 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 Plagge 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 Plagge Family in Austria
The family name Plagge finds its roots in the mountainous regions of Central Europe, with documented evidence placing early members in the Tyrol area by 1772. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from Middle High German terms related to patches of land or specific types of soil. Families during this period often adopted surnames based on the landscape they farmed or the specific plots of earth they managed. As these early ancestors lived in the rugged terrain of the Alps, their daily lives were shaped by the challenges of high-altitude agriculture and the close-knit social structures of mountain villages. Over generations, the name became a permanent identifier for families who maintained their connection to these specific alpine territories, eventually spreading as descendants moved into neighboring regions for trade and new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Placke
A Middle High German term referring to a patch of land.
This name
PlaggeA topographic name for someone who lived on or cultivated a specific small plot of land.
also spelled
Plagey
Plaggie
Plagge
Plaggay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
