A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsass family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8247 · 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 Elsass Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Elsass arms are recorded
The Elsass 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 Elsass Family in Switzerland
The family name Elsass is a topographic surname that identifies an individual’s ancestral connection to the Alsace region, a territory located along the border of modern-day France and Germany. In the German language, the name literally translates to "from Alsace," suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name likely migrated from this Rhine valley area to other parts of Europe. By 1745, records confirm that members of the family had established themselves in the city of Bern, Switzerland. During the eighteenth century, Bern was a major center for commerce and politics, and families moving into the city were often required to register their origins to maintain legal status. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people across Central Europe during the Enlightenment era, as families sought new opportunities in stable urban centers while retaining their regional identity through their surname.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alsatia
The Latin name for the Alsace region.
This name
ElsassRefers to a person who originated from the Alsace region of the Upper Rhine.
also spelled
Elsas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
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.
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
