A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Simmen family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9963 · Swiss, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 trois rocs d'échiquier d'arg., les courbes formées en têtes de cheval. C.: un lévrier assis de sa., coll. et bouclé d'arg.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Simmen Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Simmen arms are recorded
The Simmen 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 Simmen Family in Switzerland
The surname Simmen is deeply rooted in the Alpine regions of Switzerland, where it likely originated as a topographic name or a shortened form of personal names like Simon. By the mid-18th century, the family established a notable presence in the city of Bâle. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Simmen family were active participants in the urban life of this historic trade hub. During this era, families in Bâle often integrated into the local guild systems, which allowed them to contribute to the city’s growing reputation for commerce and craftsmanship. As the family settled into the region, they became part of the social fabric that defined Swiss life before the industrial shifts of the following century. Their presence in Bâle reflects the broader movement of families from rural mountain districts toward the prosperous cities that served as the economic centers of the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shimon meaning he has heard.
This name
SimmenA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Simon.
also spelled
Simen
Simmon
Related arms
Simenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Frey, Paul, Die Basler Familiennamen, 1925
Sonderegger, Stefan, Die Orts- und Flurnamen der Schweiz, 1985
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chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
