Map of France showing where the Ambuehl arms are recorded
The Ambuehl arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Ambuehl arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Ambuehl Family in France
The family name Ambuehl traces its roots to the mountainous regions of the Alps, where the name reflects a long history of life in high-altitude landscapes. The name is derived from the German words for "at the hill," which suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or herders who lived on the slopes of the valley. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France. This area served as a vital crossroads between the French kingdom and the neighboring territories of Savoy and Switzerland. The family likely moved into this rugged province to seek new agricultural opportunities or to escape the political instability that frequently affected the alpine borderlands during the seventeenth century. Their migration into Dauphiné highlights the resilience of a family that adapted to new environments while maintaining their traditional way of life in the mountains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Am-bühl
A combination of the words for river and hill or slope.
This name
AmbuehlRefers to someone who lived near a hill or slope located by a river or stream.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauphiné Departmental Archives, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Nègre, Ernest, Toponymie générale de la France, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
