Map of Germany showing where the von Tann arms are recorded
The von Tann arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with arms.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the von Tann arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
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.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Swabia.
Origin & History of the von Tann Family in Germany
The family name von Tann finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Swabia, a region in southwestern Germany known for its deep traditions and complex feudal history. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this area, living among the rolling hills and dense forests that likely inspired their topographic surname. In the German naming tradition, the prefix "von" typically indicated a connection to a specific place or a landed estate, suggesting that the early ancestors of the family were tied to the land of Tann. During the 1765 period, life in Swabia was defined by local agricultural practices and the influence of regional nobility, which shaped the social standing of families residing in these rural communities. As the family navigated the shifting political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, they remained part of the fabric of Swabian society, contributing to the local culture and history of the region for generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une tête et col de vache de sa. C.: le meuble de l'écu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the von Tann arms are recorded
The von Tann arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 von Tann Family in Switzerland
The family name von Tann finds a significant anchor in the historical records of Bern, where members of the lineage were documented as early as 1745. During this period, Bern functioned as a powerful city-state, and families with the "von" prefix often held positions of civic importance or land ownership within the surrounding Swiss cantons. The name itself suggests a connection to the German word for fir tree, implying that the family’s earliest ancestors likely originated from a forested region or a specific settlement named Tann. As they established themselves in the Swiss landscape, the family integrated into the local social hierarchy, navigating the complex political environment of the eighteenth-century Swiss Confederacy. Their presence in Bern indicates that they were part of the urban elite or the professional class who helped shape the administrative and cultural life of the city during a time of significant transition.
von Tann Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Tanne
A German word referring to the fir tree.
This name
von TannIndicates a family originating from a location characterized by fir trees.
also spelled
Vontan
Tann
von Tan
Tan
Related arms
Tannvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bader, Karl S., Der deutsche Südwesten in seiner territorialgeschichtlichen Entwicklung, 1950
Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, Bestand A 202: Württembergische Regierungsakten, 1765
Müller, Hermann, Südwestdeutsche Familienkunde: Geschichte und Herkunft der Namen, 1972
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pine coneLife and fertility
pine coneLife and fertility
bullValour and generosity
