A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sherk family of Austria.
Reg. 0756 · Austrian, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une tête de poisson d'arg., posée en pal.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Sherk Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Sherk arms are recorded
The Sherk 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 Sherk 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 Sherk 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 Sherk Family in Austria
The family name Sherk is deeply rooted in the Alpine region of Tyrol, where ancestors were documented living as early as 1772. During this period, the name was closely associated with the rugged landscape of the Austrian and Italian borderlands. Families in this area often lived in small, isolated mountain communities that relied on agriculture and trade along ancient mountain passes. The name likely evolved from local dialects used by the mountain people to describe specific geographic features or the occupations of those living in the high valleys. As the eighteenth century progressed, many families from this region began to move toward larger urban centers or sought new opportunities in other parts of Europe. This migration was often driven by the search for better farmland or the desire to escape the political instability that frequently affected the Tyrol region during the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scherer
An occupational term for a shearer or cutter of cloth.
This name
SherkA variant spelling of a surname denoting a person who worked as a cloth shearer.
also spelled
Cherg
Chergke
Sherk
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1772
Hermann Wopfner, Die Besiedlung der Hochalpen, 1927
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
