A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsas family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0911 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'or au pal de sa. ch. de trois bes. d'arg. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Elsas Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Elsas arms are recorded
The Elsas arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Elsas Family in Switzerland
The family name Elsas is deeply rooted in the history of the German-speaking regions of Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Bern by 1745. The name is generally classified as a patronymic or habitational surname, often derived from the given name Elias or associated with the Alsace region. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were frequently part of the mobile merchant and artisan classes who moved across borders to establish new trade connections. In the context of Bern, the presence of the Elsas family suggests they were integrated into the urban fabric of the city, likely participating in the local economy or professional guilds. As they settled in Switzerland, they maintained their distinct identity while adapting to the social and legal structures of the Swiss Confederation. This period of migration was common for many families seeking stability and economic opportunity during a time of significant political change in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elisabeth
Hebrew for my God is an oath or my God is abundance.
This name
ElsasA patronymic or matronymic form derived from the name Elizabeth, signifying descendant of Elizabeth.
also spelled
Elsas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2002
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, 1957
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
