A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ulrich family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
swanGrace, light and the poet's artJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un cygne d'arg.”
The Ulrich arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Reigning in Germany when the Ulrich arms are first recorded.
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
The name Ulrich originates from the Old High German name Uodalrich, which combines the words for heritage and power or nobility. As a given name, it became popular throughout the German-speaking lands during the Middle Ages, largely due to the influence of Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, a famous bishop who lived in the tenth century. Over time, as hereditary surnames became standard practice, families adopted the name to identify their lineage. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was well-established in urban centers like Nuremberg. In this period, Nuremberg was a thriving hub for trade and craftsmanship, and families living there were often integrated into the city’s guilds or professional classes. The presence of the Ulrich family in the city by 1765 reflects this era of growth, where families moved through the German states to pursue commerce and stability in major administrative and industrial centers.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from aboveJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à une flèche d'or, arm. et empennée d'arg., posée en pal, soutenue d'un tertre de sin. et accostée de deux étoiles du sec.; au crampon de sa., posé en barre, br. sur le fût de la flèche. C.: trois flèches d'or, arm. et empennées d'arg., une en pal et les deux autres br. en saut.; le tout accosté de deux étoiles d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
The Ulrich 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.
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.
The name Ulrich is deeply rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, originating as a given name that combines the Old High German words for noble and heritage or power. By the time members of the family were documented in Basel in 1745, the name had long transitioned from a personal identifier into a stable hereditary surname. In the Swiss context, families named Ulrich often held status as established citizens within urban centers like Basel, where they participated in the local trade guilds and civic governance. During the eighteenth century, Basel was a thriving hub of commerce and intellectual exchange, and families with this name were frequently integrated into the professional classes. Because the Swiss cantons maintained meticulous records of residency and citizenship, the presence of the Ulrich family in these archives reflects a history of stability and social participation in the region. Their documented history in Basel serves as a window into how families solidified their identity and community standing during the late Enlightenment period in Switzerland.
Derived from Old High German words for heritage and noble power.
