A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Zinke family of Austria.
Reg. 6949 · Austrian
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
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à une étoile d'arg.: au 2 d'arg. à trois bandes d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, rebr. et ceint d'arg., au rabat du même, coiffé d'un bonnet d'azur, retr. d'arg., supp. de sa main dextre une étoile d'arg., la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1804
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Map of Austria showing where the Zinke arms are recorded
The Zinke arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1804.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1804
Granting Authority for the Zinke Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Austria when the Zinke 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 Galicia.
Origin & History of the Zinke Family in Austria
The surname Zinke is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of names containing the element "zin." By the early 19th century, members of the Zinke family were well-established in the region of Galicia, which was then part of the Austrian Empire. During this period, the area was a cultural crossroads where German-speaking settlers lived alongside Polish and Ukrainian populations. Families like the Zinkes often worked as skilled tradespeople or farmers, contributing to the development of local villages and towns. Because Galicia was a frontier territory for the Habsburg monarchy, the presence of the Zinke name there suggests a history of migration and adaptation as families moved eastward to seek new opportunities in the fertile lands of the Carpathian foothills.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zinke
Derived from the Middle High German word for a prong or spike.
This name
ZinkeA topographic name for someone living near a pointed hill or a nickname for a sharp-featured person.
also spelled
Zincke
Zink
Zynke
Zinka
Related arms
Zinkvariant 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
Magocsi, Paul Robert, Galicia: A Historical Survey and Bibliographic Guide, 1983
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv (Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi istorychnyi arkhiv Ukrainy u Lvovi), Fond 201: Records of the Galician Gubernium
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
