A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Riedl family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1821 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de sa. chapé d'azur, l'azur ch. de deux étoiles d'or; au 2 d'or à une eau au nat., sur laquelle vogue une barque au nat., supp. deux couteaux passés en saut., br. sur le coupé, de l'un en l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. et cour., supp. de sa patte dextre une étoile, le tout d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Riedl arms are recorded
The Riedl arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Riedl arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Riedl Family in Germany
The surname Riedl is deeply rooted in the linguistic and geographical landscape of Southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word riet, which refers to a marshy area or a patch of reeds. Historically, this suggests that the earliest families bearing this name were likely settlers who lived near wetlands or cleared such land for agricultural use. By the time records place the family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already become a well-established identifier for local farmers and tradespeople. These early ancestors were part of a society defined by village life and the seasonal rhythms of the Alpine foothills. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local parish structures, which served as the primary keepers of vital records during the eighteenth century. This connection to the land and the local community reflects the typical experience of families who helped shape the rural identity of the Bavarian countryside long before the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à quatre étoiles d'arg, 2 et 2, acc. en chef d'une autre étoile d'arg., plus grande que les autres. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un vol cont. d'azur, ch. d'une barre d'arg.; 1. d'arg. et d'azur; 2° un vol à l'antique d'or, ch. d'une bande de gu.; 1. d'or et de gu.”
Austriac. 1867
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Map of Austria showing where the Riedl arms are recorded
The Riedl arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1867.
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
1867
Granting Authority for the Riedl 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 Germany when the Riedl 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 Riedl Family in Austria
The surname Riedl is deeply rooted in the mountainous landscape of Austria, particularly within the region of Tyrol. The name itself is a diminutive form of the Middle High German word "Ried," which refers to a clearing in a forest or a patch of marshy land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Riedl family were likely farmers or settlers who cleared wooded areas to establish homesteads in the rugged Alpine valleys. By the mid-19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established members of the Tyrolean community. These early Riedls lived through a period of significant social change as the region transitioned from a traditional agrarian society into the modern era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their history reflects the resilience of mountain families who adapted to the challenging climate and terrain of the Alps over many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ried
A clearing in a forest or a marshy area.
This name
RiedlA topographic name for someone who lived near a forest clearing or marsh.
also spelled
Reedl
Related arms
Riedelvariant spelling
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
