Ammann Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ammann family lines. Documented in 3 countries.

Reg. 2655 · German, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

knightChivalry and service in arms

Colours

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

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)

“Parti d'or et d'arg.; à un chevalier, arm. de toutes pièces au nat., posé de front, br. sur le parti, la visière fermée, le casque panaché de trois pl. d'aut. de sa., tenant de sa main dextre un drapeau de gu. frangé d'or, attaché à une lance de tournoi au nat., et de sa sen. levée une couronne de laurier de sin. Cq. cour. C.: une sirène de carn., tenant de sa main dextre un trèfle de sin., et br. sur un vol d'or et d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”

Germanyc. 1765

Where the Ammann Arms Were Recorded

Bavaria

Map of Germany showing where the Ammann arms are recorded

The Ammann arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.

Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.

Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.

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.

Region: Bavaria
First recorded: 1765

Granting Authority for the Ammann Arms

Authority

Imperial grant of arms

962-1806

The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

1745–1765

Reigning in Germany when the Ammann 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 Ammann Family in Germany

The surname Ammann originated as a professional title rather than a simple family name. In medieval Germany, an *Ammann* was a local official appointed to represent the interests of a lord or a ruler within a specific village or district. These individuals were responsible for managing legal disputes, collecting taxes, and overseeing public order. Over time, as hereditary surnames became common, families who held this administrative position adopted the title as their permanent name. By the time records place the family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a job description to a marker of ancestral identity. This history reflects the social structure of early German communities where a person’s role in the village often defined their place in society for generations to come.

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure

Colours

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

Green (Vert)Means: Hope

Historical info

Source

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Blazon (the actual original written record)

“D'arg. au griffon de sin., tenant de ses pattes une flèche d'arg., empennée d'arg. et de gu., la pointe en bas. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti d'arg. et de sin., au rabat de l'un en l'autre, tenant de sa main dextre la flèche de l'écu.”

SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745

Where the Ammann Arms Were Recorded

Bâle

Map of Switzerland showing where the Ammann arms are recorded

The Ammann 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.

Region: Bâle
Town: Bâle
First recorded: 1745

Granting Authority for the Ammann Arms

Authority

Cantonal and civic registers

14th century onwards

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 Ammann Family in Switzerland

The surname Ammann is deeply rooted in the administrative history of Switzerland, originating as a title rather than a simple nickname. The word itself comes from the Middle High German term *amman*, which referred to a government official or a magistrate appointed to oversee local affairs. In the Swiss cantons, these individuals acted as representatives of the ruling authorities, managing judicial duties and tax collections for their communities. By the time members of the family were documented in Basel in 1745, the name had long transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname. This shift reflects the family’s long-standing role as local leaders who helped shape the civic life of the Swiss confederation during the transition from the medieval period to the modern era.

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it

saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross

cross symbolChristian faith and service

keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward

Colours

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Green (Vert)Means: Hope

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

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)

“D'azur à trois collines de sin., mouv. de la p., celle du milieu sommée d'un triangle d'or, posé sur l'un de ses angles; à deux clés d'or, passées en saut., br. sur le triangle et acc. en chef d'une croisette d'arg. [V. Hurter-Ammann.]”

Austriac. 1778

Where the Ammann Arms Were Recorded

Tyrol

Map of Austria showing where the Ammann arms are recorded

The Ammann arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1778.

Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.

Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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.

Region: Tyrol
First recorded: 1778

Granting Authority for the Ammann Arms

Authority

Imperial and Royal chancery

1453-1918

The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor

1765–1790

Reigning in Germany when the Ammann arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Austria

Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.

Granting authority: The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms: Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded: Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing: Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.

Origin & History of the Ammann Family in Austria

The surname Ammann originates from the medieval German word for a local administrative official, specifically a magistrate or a person who managed the affairs of a community on behalf of a lord. By the time members of the family were documented in the Tyrol region of Austria in 1778, the name had transitioned from a formal job title into a hereditary family name. In the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, families with this name often held positions of local influence or managed agricultural estates. Because the name was tied to a specific public office, it likely emerged independently in several different villages as families became associated with the duties of the local magistrate. Over many generations, the name became a permanent marker of these families as they settled into the rural social structures of the Austrian Alps.