A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Puffer family of Austria.
Reg. 0528 · Austrian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un buste d'homme, hab. au nat., coiffé d'un chapeau, sommé d'une pl. d'aut.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, passées en saut., les pointes en bas. Sur le tout d'arg. à trois pontons au nat. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° le buste; 2° un vol; 3° un bras, brandissant une épée.”
Austriac. 1853
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Map of Austria showing where the Puffer arms are recorded
The Puffer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1853.
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
1853
Granting Authority for the Puffer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Austria when the Puffer 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 Puffer Family in Austria
The family name Puffer finds its historical roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where ancestors were firmly established by the mid-nineteenth century. The surname is likely topographic or descriptive in origin, often linked to the Middle High German word "puffer," which historically referred to a person who worked with bellows or perhaps someone with a robust physical presence. Families bearing this name were typically integrated into the local agrarian and artisan communities of the Alpine valleys, where they contributed to the unique cultural development of the region. By 1853, the Puffer name was already a recognized part of the local social fabric, reflecting a long history of residence within the borders of the Austrian Empire. These early generations lived through a period of significant transition in Tyrol, navigating the challenges of mountain life and the shifting political landscape of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Puff
A Middle High German term referring to a puff, blow, or gust.
This name
PufferAn occupational or descriptive nickname for a boisterous person or a bellows maker.
also spelled
Pufferi
Puffere
Puffar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Huter, Franz. Tiroler Urkundenbuch. 1937
Tiroler Landesarchiv. Standesbücher der Pfarreien. 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
