A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Slaughter family of Austria.
Reg. 4627 · Austrian, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pegasusFame, eloquence and swift renown
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un Pégase saillant d'arg., soutenu d'un rocher de trois pics du même; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à trois barres écotées d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le Pégase, iss., entre un vol, l'aile dextre coupée d'arg. sur gu., l'aile sen. aux armes du 2. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Austriac. 1772
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 Slaughter arms are recorded
The Slaughter 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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter Family in Austria
The family name Slaughter has roots that reach back into the Alpine regions of Europe, specifically within the historical territory of Tyrol. By 1772, records confirm that members of the family were established in this mountainous area, which served as a vital crossroads between Germanic and Italian cultures. The name itself is often classified as a topographic or occupational surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word *slot*, which referred to a muddy or swampy area, or perhaps a narrow passage. Families living near these distinct geographical features often adopted the term as a way to identify their home or their trade. As the family moved across borders and through different linguistic regions, the spelling evolved to fit local pronunciation, eventually settling into the form recognized today. This history reflects the broader movement of people who lived in the rural valleys of the Alps during the eighteenth century, where families were deeply connected to the specific landscapes they inhabited.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
slahter
A Middle English term referring to a butcher or slaughterer.
This name
SlaughterAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a butcher or animal processor.
also spelled
Slachter
Shlakter
Slaughter
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
pegasusFame, eloquence and swift renown
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pegasusFame, eloquence and swift renown
