A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dachs family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4635 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
badgerSteadfastness and persistence
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. à un blaireau ramp. d'or, soutenu d'un tertre de sin. C.: un blaireau ramp. d'or.”
SwitzerlandBerne, c. 1745
Where the Dachs Arms Were Recorded
Berne
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dachs arms are recorded
The Dachs arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Dachs Family in Switzerland
The surname Dachs originates from the Middle High German word for badger, a term often used as a nickname for a person who was either persistent or lived in a secluded manner. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Berne, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Dachs family were integrated into the local community during a time when Berne was a powerful city-state dominated by influential patrician families. Because surnames were often tied to specific trades or physical characteristics, the name likely emerged among families who worked in rural areas or lived near the wooded regions surrounding the Swiss plateau. Over time, these families became part of the social fabric of the Bernese region, contributing to the agricultural and civic life that defined the Swiss cantons during the Enlightenment era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
badgerSteadfastness and persistence
Colours
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'or à un blaireau au nat., cour. d'or. Brl. de sa. et d'or. C.: un panache de plumes de coq, parti de sa. et d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
FranceStrasbourg, c. 1663
Where the Dachs Arms Were Recorded
Strasbourg
Map of France showing where the Dachs arms are recorded
The Dachs arms were recorded in Strasbourg, c. 1663.
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 Switzerland when the Dachs 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 France.
Origin & History of the Dachs Family in France
The surname Dachs carries a rich history rooted in the borderlands of the Rhine, where the family established a notable presence in Strasbourg by 1663. In the German language, the word dachs translates to badger, suggesting that the name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who possessed the traits of this resilient animal or perhaps lived near a badger burrow. During the seventeenth century, Strasbourg served as a vital crossroads between French and Germanic cultures, and the family name reflects this unique linguistic blend. As the region transitioned through various political shifts, the Dachs family integrated into the local urban life of the city. They participated in the social and economic rhythms of the Alsatian region, contributing to the development of a community defined by its distinct cross-cultural identity. By settling in this strategic hub, the early members of the family helped establish a legacy that persisted through generations of change in eastern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dahhs
A Germanic term referring to the badger animal.
This name
DachsA topographic or occupational surname originally used to describe someone resembling a badger or living near a badger sett.
also spelled
Dachse
Tachs
Dachss
Daks
Related arms
Dachvariant spelling
Tachsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz. Familiennamen. 2012
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern. Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern. 1745
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
badgerSteadfastness and persistence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
badgerSteadfastness and persistence
