A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Achen family of Germany.
Reg. 8007 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à trois croiss. d'arg.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1816
Where the Achen Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Achen arms are recorded
The Achen arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1816.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Achen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Achen Family in Germany
The family name Achen is rooted in the historical landscape of Westphalia, a region in northwestern Germany known for its deep agricultural traditions and dense forests. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the area, likely living as farmers or skilled tradespeople within the local village structures. The name itself is topographic in nature, which means it was often used to identify people who lived near a specific body of water or a small stream. In the local Westphalian dialect, such features were vital to the survival of early communities, serving as both a source of irrigation for crops and a boundary marker for property lines. As the family grew throughout the 1800s, they became part of the steady social fabric of the region, participating in the local parish life and the evolving economic shifts that defined rural German history during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ache
A small river or stream of water.
This name
AchenRefers to a person who lived near a small river or stream.
also spelled
Achen
Aken
Ahken
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
Udolph, Jürgen, Namenkunde: Erforschung und Erklärung der Namen, 2009
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
