A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Zett family of Austria.
Reg. 9560 · Austrian
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
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 un chev. abaissé, supp. deux lions affr., et acc. en p. d'une équerre br. sur un compas ouv. en chev., les pointes en haut, le tout d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un vol cont., l'aile de derrière d'arg. plein, l'aile de”
Austriac. 1882
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Map of Austria showing where the Zett arms are recorded
The Zett arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1882.
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
1882
Granting Authority for the Zett 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 Zett 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 Zett Family in Austria
The surname Zett finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Tyrol region. By the late nineteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within these alpine communities. The name likely originated as a shortened form of longer Germanic names or as a descriptive term linked to the local dialect spoken in the eastern Alps. Because the Tyrol was a crossroads for trade and migration between German and Italian speaking lands, the Zett family lived in a society that valued craftsmanship and mountain agriculture. These early family members were part of a resilient culture that adapted to the harsh winters and isolated valleys of the region. Over generations, the name became a permanent fixture in the local parish registers and civil documents of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zettl
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Josef or Sedl.
This name
ZettA topographic or occupational surname referring to a small farmstead or a person from a specific settlement.
also spelled
Zetle
Zettel
Zetl
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Zivilstandsregister der Tiroler Gemeinden
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Steub, Ludwig, Zur Ethnographie der deutschen Hinterwälder, 1889
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
