A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Asch family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3638 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois chev. d'arg. C.: un chapeau piramidal aux armes de l'écu, retr. d'herm., cour. d'or, sommé d'un panache de plumes de coq de sa.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Asch Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Asch arms are recorded
The Asch arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Asch 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Asch Family in Germany
The family name Asch finds its roots in the historical landscape of Germany, particularly within the region of Swabia. The name is often classified as a topographic surname, which means it was likely adopted by families who lived near a prominent ash tree or a settlement known by that name. By the middle of the eighteenth century, specifically by 1765, records confirm that members of the Asch family were well-established residents in Swabian communities. During this era, Swabia was a patchwork of small territories, and families like the Aschs were typically involved in local agriculture, trade, or craft guilds. As they settled into these rural and town environments, the name became a permanent marker of their identity within the local parish registers and tax documents. This period of history reflects a time when surnames were transitioning from simple descriptors to formal family identifiers that were passed down through generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois chev. d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion iss. et cont. d'or; 2° un griffon iss. d'arg., tenant une épée du même. S.: à dextre un lion reg. d'or; à sen. un griffon reg. d'arg., tenant une épée du même. D.: VIRTUTE DUCE.”
Russiac. 1762
Where the Asch Arms Were Recorded
Moscow
Map of Russia showing where the Asch arms are recorded
The Asch arms were recorded in Russia, c. 1762.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are recorded.
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 Russia in this period.
Elizabeth I of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of Russia
1741–1762
Reigning in Germany when the Asch arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Asch Family in Russia
The history of the Asch family in Russia begins with their arrival in Moscow around 1762. During this period, the Russian Empire actively recruited skilled professionals from German-speaking lands to modernize the country. The Asch family members were notable for their contributions to medicine and science, which were highly valued by the imperial court. They integrated into the Russian nobility and civil service, often serving as court physicians or high-ranking officials. By establishing themselves in the capital, they became part of a small but influential group of foreign-born experts who helped shape the intellectual life of the Russian Enlightenment. Their presence in Moscow marked the start of a long legacy of public service that lasted for several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Asche
Old High German word for ash tree or ash wood.
This name
AschA topographic name for someone who lived near an ash tree or a settlement named Asch.
also spelled
Ash
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
State Archive of Baden-Württemberg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg, 1765
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