A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ohl family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1679 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
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'or à un tronc d'arbre arr., poussant quatre branches, chacune feuillée de trois pièces de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti de sin. et d'or, tort. des mêmes émaux, tenant de chaque main trois feuilles de sin.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Ohl arms are recorded
The Ohl 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 Ohl Family in Switzerland
The surname Ohl is deeply rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, often serving as a shortened form of names beginning with the prefix "Odal," which translates to heritage or ancestral property. By the mid-18th century, members of the Ohl family were well-established in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. During this era, Bâle served as a vital crossroads for trade and intellectual exchange between German, French, and Swiss territories. Families living in this region were frequently involved in skilled craftsmanship or merchant guilds, which allowed them to maintain a stable presence in the urban landscape. The presence of the Ohl name in local records from 1745 suggests that the family was integrated into the social and economic fabric of this bustling city, likely contributing to the vibrant culture of the Upper Rhine region during the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Odal
Old High German term referring to ancestral property or inherited land.
This name
OhlA topographic or status-based surname denoting a person who held ancestral land.
also spelled
Oel
Ol
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Basel
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Burckhardt, August, Die Bürger von Basel, 1940
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
