Map of Switzerland showing where the Hensen arms are recorded
The Hensen arms were recorded in Valais, 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 Hensen Family in Switzerland
The family name Hensen is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Hans or Johannes. This naming tradition was common across Germanic-speaking regions of Europe, where the name evolved into various forms based on local dialects and regional spelling preferences. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Hensen family had established a documented presence in the mountainous canton of Valais in Switzerland. Living in this rugged alpine environment, early family members likely participated in the traditional agricultural and pastoral life that defined the region during the 1740s. As the family grew, they integrated into the local social and economic structures of the Swiss valleys, contributing to the historical development of their community through their work and daily interactions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
This name
HensenA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of John.
also spelled
Hensen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État du Valais, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien diocèse de Sion
Archives de l'État du Valais, Recensements de la population du Valais
Guex, André, Histoire du Valais, 1972
Suter, Karl, Die schweizerischen Familiennamen, 1976
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
