Map of Switzerland showing where the Escalona arms are recorded
The Escalona arms were recorded in Genève, 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 Escalona Family in Switzerland
The family name Escalona originates from the Spanish language and is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place. The name is linked to the town of Escalona in the province of Toledo, Spain, which was a significant defensive location during the Middle Ages. The name itself comes from the Latin word "escalona," which refers to a staircase or a stepped formation, likely describing the steep terrain where the original settlement was built. By the mid-18th century, members of the family had moved far beyond their ancestral roots in the Iberian Peninsula. Records confirm that the family was established in Geneva, Switzerland, by 1745. This migration suggests that the family was part of a mobile and professional class, likely moving across Europe for trade, diplomacy, or religious reasons during a period when Geneva served as a major intellectual and commercial hub.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scala
Latin word referring to a ladder, staircase, or flight of steps.
This name
EscalonaRefers to someone who lived near a steep staircase or a place with terraced slopes.
also spelled
Eshalon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià, Illes Balears, 1959
Faure, Robert, Les noms de famille et leurs secrets, 2013
Archives d'État de Genève, État civil et registres paroissiaux (1745)
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ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
