A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haben family of Switzerland.
Reg. 3372 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, ch. de trois têtes et cols d'aigle au nat. C.: un vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Haben Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Haben arms are recorded
The Haben 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 Haben Family in Switzerland
The family name Haben has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Habens were often tied to the local agricultural or artisan communities that supported the region. The name likely evolved from Middle High German terms related to possession or holding, which suggests that early ancestors may have been landowners or tenants who managed specific plots of land. As the family grew, they became integrated into the administrative and social life of the Bernese countryside, where they navigated the complex legal and religious systems of the eighteenth century. By remaining in this region for generations, the Haben family helped shape the local culture and contributed to the enduring history of the Bernese highlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Habe
Old High German term related to possession or holding property.
This name
HabenA surname historically denoting a person who holds land or possesses wealth.
also spelled
Habenn
Habene
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinde Bern, 1745
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts, 1985
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Bern (Kanton), 2004
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
