A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altenburger family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4153 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à un portique carré d'or, crén., ouv. du champ, soutenu d'un socle d'or et sommé sur ses extrémités de deux bannières coupées de sa. sur arg. C.: le portique.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Altenburger Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Altenburger arms are recorded
The Altenburger arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Altenburger Family in Switzerland
The family name Altenburger is a locational surname, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from a place called Altenburg. In German, this name translates to "old castle" or "old town," suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent historic fortification or a long-established settlement. By the middle of the 18th century, members of the family had established a presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that the family was integrated into the local community during a time when the city served as a major center for trade and intellectual exchange. As these individuals moved across borders and settled in new regions, they carried the name with them, preserving a linguistic link to the ancestral lands where their family history first began.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alt-burg
Old or ancient fortified place or castle.
This name
AltenburgerA person who originated from an old or ancient castle or fortified settlement.
also spelled
Altenburguer
Altenburg
Related arms
Altenburgvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister (1745)
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Basel (1745)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung (1971)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
