A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoch family of Switzerland.
Reg. 7590 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à une tour carrée d'arg., ouv. et aj. de sa., couverte d'un toit pointu de gu., ayant trois tourelles d'arg. couvertes de gu. aux angles de la tour; le tout sommé d'une tourelle pareille; ladite tour posée sur un tertre de gu. C.: une cigogne d'arg., bq. et m. de gu., le vol ouv. et abaissé. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Hoch arms are recorded
The Hoch 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 Hoch Family in Switzerland
The surname Hoch is of Germanic origin and functions as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Middle High German word "hôh," which translates to "high" or "tall." Historically, such names were often assigned to individuals who were physically imposing or who lived in elevated locations, such as on a hill or near a prominent landmark. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Hoch family were integrated into the social and economic life of this region, a city that served as a major hub for trade and intellectual exchange along the Rhine River. During this era, families with this name were often involved in the skilled crafts and merchant guilds that defined the urban landscape of the Swiss cantons.
Hoch Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
hoh
Old High German term referring to something elevated or high.
This name
HochA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a hill or high ground.
also spelled
Hoche
Hock
Hoach
Hok
Related arms
Hockvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
