A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Achs family of Switzerland.
Reg. 3851 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une croix de Lorraine, soutenue d'un lacs d'amour en fasce, chaque extrémité sommée d'une branche feuillée, accostant la croix; la trabe de la croix ch. d'un annelet br.; le tout de sa.”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
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 Switzerland showing where the Achs arms are recorded
The Achs arms were recorded in Fribourg, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Achs Family in Switzerland
The family name Achs has deep roots in the historical landscape of Fribourg, Switzerland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1745. During this period, Fribourg functioned as a crossroads of culture and trade, meaning families like the Achs were often integrated into the local craft or agricultural guilds that defined daily life. The name itself is thought to be a shortened form or a regional variation of longer Germanic surnames, potentially linked to specific occupations or geographic markers near the Alpine foothills. As residents of a city known for its strict social structures and meticulous record-keeping, the early Achs family members were likely participants in the civic and religious life of the canton. Their presence in the mid-eighteenth century suggests they were part of the steady, hardworking population that helped maintain the stability of the region during a time of significant political transition in Switzerland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ache
A Middle High German term referring to a stream or brook.
This name
AchsA topographic name for someone who lived near a small river or stream.
also spelled
Taks
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives de l'État de Fribourg, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Fribourg
Book: Kuenlin, Franz, Dictionnaire géographique, statistique et historique du canton de Fribourg, 1832
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
cross symbolChristian faith and service
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
