A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amman family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4786 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 deux fleurs-de-lis accostées d'or; au 2 fascé d'or et de gu. C.: un buste de More, hab. aux armes de l'écu, tort. de gu. et d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandFribourg Suisse, c. 1745
Where the Amman Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Amman arms are recorded
The Amman arms were recorded in Fribourg Suisse, 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 Amman Family in Switzerland
The surname Amman is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss Confederation, originating as a title for a local magistrate or an administrative official known as an *Ammann*. In the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, this term referred to a person who held authority over a village or a district, often acting as a representative of the state or a feudal lord. By the time members of the family were documented in Fribourg in 1745, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname. Families bearing this name were typically integrated into the social and political fabric of their communities, often participating in local governance or trade. Because the title was common throughout the Swiss cantons, the name reflects the long tradition of localized leadership and civic responsibility that defined early Swiss society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 la rose d'or, bout. de gu.; le champ chapé-ployé du sec. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, ceint d'or, tort. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
Where the Amman Arms Were Recorded
Ratisbonne
Map of Germany showing where the Amman arms are recorded
The Amman arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Switzerland when the Amman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Amman Family in Germany
The surname Amman traces its roots back to the medieval period in German-speaking lands, originating as an occupational title for a local administrative official or a village magistrate. Derived from the Middle High German word *ambetman*, the name identified individuals who held authority, managed legal disputes, or oversaw communal affairs on behalf of a lord or a town council. By the time the family was documented in Ratisbonne, which is known today as Regensburg, in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a specific job title into a hereditary family surname. During the eighteenth century, members of the Amman family in this region were often integrated into the urban fabric of the city, participating in the trade and civic life that defined the Holy Roman Empire. This transition reflects a broader historical trend where administrative titles became permanent family identifiers, marking the descendants of those who once served as the primary mediators between the common people and the ruling powers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amman
Derived from the Middle High German word for a magistrate or official.
This name
AmmanAn occupational surname for a village magistrate, mayor, or administrative official.
also spelled
Aman
Related arms
Amanvariant spelling
Bessonrecorded with Amman, same area
Habichrecorded with Amman, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, 2002
Schweizerisches Idiotikon, Schweizerisches Idiotikon: Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881
Archives de l'État de Fribourg, Registres paroissiaux et documents d'état civil, 1745
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
