A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elsner family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0894 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur arg., le gu. ch. d'un lion naiss. d'or, mouv. du coupé et tenant une flèche d'arg., posée en barre, la pointe en haut. C.: un lion iss. d'or, mouv. d'un chapeau de gu., brandissant une épée; entre un vol de gu., semé de coeurs d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Elsner Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Elsner arms are recorded
The Elsner 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.
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 Elsner Family in Switzerland
The family name Elsner has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, and its presence in Switzerland is well-documented by the middle of the eighteenth century. By 1745, members of the Elsner family were established residents of Bâle, a city that served as a vital hub for trade and intellectual exchange along the Rhine River. During this period, the name was often associated with families of artisan or merchant backgrounds who moved between Swiss cities and neighboring German territories to seek new economic opportunities. These early settlers in Bâle integrated into the local community by participating in the city’s rigorous guild systems and civic life. Their migration patterns reflect the broader movement of families across the Swiss plateau, where they contributed to the urban development and social fabric of the region during the Enlightenment era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un homme iss., posé de profil, hab. d'azur, au rabat d'or, ceint du même, coiffé d'un bonnet d'azur, sommé à dextre d'une plume de coq de gu., tenant de ses deux mains un poisson de sin. en fasce devant sa poitrine; l'homme mouv. d'une roue de huit rayons de sa., posée sur un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme iss. (sans roue ni tertre). L. d'arg. et d'azur. D.: FINEM RESPICE.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Elsner Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Elsner arms are recorded
The Elsner 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.
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 Switzerland when the Elsner 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 Elsner Family in Germany
The surname Elsner has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a nickname or a shortened form of the name Adalbert. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was well-established among families living in the southern territories of Bavaria. During this period, the region was characterized by a mix of rural farming communities and growing trade centers, which allowed families to settle and pass down their names through generations. The presence of the Elsner name in Bavarian records from 1765 suggests that these ancestors were likely part of the common citizenry who contributed to the local economy and social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire. As the family grew, they moved through the changing political landscapes of the German states, carrying their name as a marker of their specific regional heritage and ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elsen
Derived from the Germanic name Adal or noble.
This name
ElsnerAn occupational or habitational name referring to someone from a place named Elsen or a noble descendant.
Related arms
Cavalersimilar arms
Cavalier de Proulharguessimilar arms
Hardysimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister 1745
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Die Geschichte der Basler Einwanderung, 2010
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
