A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eshak family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5702 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une tête de poisson d'arg., posée en bande. C.: la tête de poisson, posée en pal.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Eshak Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Eshak arms are recorded
The Eshak 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 Eshak Family in Switzerland
The family name Eshak carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Switzerland. By 1745, records confirm that members of the family were established residents of Bern, a city that served as a major political and economic hub during that era. At this time, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict patrician class, and families living within its walls were often integrated into the local trade guilds or administrative systems. The name itself reflects the linguistic diversity of the region, potentially evolving from older naming traditions that were common among families living in the intersection of Germanic and broader European cultures. While the exact origins of the name remain a subject of study, the presence of the family in Bern suggests they were part of the stable middle class that helped sustain the city’s growth during the mid-1700s. Through their daily lives and local contributions, these early ancestors helped define the family legacy long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Yitzhak
Hebrew for he will laugh or he will rejoice.
This name
EshakA variant of Isaac, signifying one who brings joy or laughter.
also spelled
Aeschak
Eschach
Eshak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Bern (Gemeinde), 2002
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.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
