A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pongracz family of Austria.
Reg. 7070 · Austrian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., le coupeau du milieu sommé d'une couronne d'or; et un bras arm. au nat., mouv. de la couronne, la main de carn. tenant le lien d'or d'un cor-de-chasse d'arg. en pal, eng. et pavillonné d'or, le pavillon dudit cor reposant sur le bord de la couronne, la courbe du cor tournée à dextre, et l'embouchure en haut; le tout acc. en chef d'une étoile d'or; le champ chapé-ployé de gu., ch. à dextre et à sen. d'une demi-aigle de sa., bq. et m. d'or, mouv. du champ. Cq. cour. C.: un bras, arm. au nat., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en pal; entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
Austriac. 1608
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 Pongracz arms are recorded
The Pongracz arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1608.
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
1608
Granting Authority for the Pongracz Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Austria when the Pongracz 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 Pongracz Family in Austria
The Pongracz family name originates from the medieval personal name Pancratius, which translates to "all-powerful" in Greek. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the Tyrol region of the Alps. Records from 1608 confirm that members of the family were active in this mountainous area, which served as a vital crossroads between Germanic and Italian cultures. During this period, families in Tyrol often held positions of local influence or managed agricultural estates within the rugged landscape. As the name spread through the region, it evolved into the distinct Hungarian and Central European form recognized today. This history reflects the broader movement of families across the Holy Roman Empire, where individuals often settled in new territories to serve in administrative or land-owning roles.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pancratius
Derived from the Greek word meaning all-powerful or almighty.
This name
PongraczA Hungarian and Austrian surname originating from the given name Pancratius, signifying one who is all-powerful.
also spelled
Pongracz
Pongratz
Pongrac
Pongrats de Sent Miklos et Dovar
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
