Familie A(E)ichelman(n)

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The Aichelmann family derives from an Alemannic citizen family, whose village was located in the Tyrol of Switzerland. Johann P. Aichelmann a parish pastor in Dillanders, Tyrol, Switzerland, received on 21 December 1610 a coat of arms by the reigning Bishop of Brixen, Tyrol.

After determination of heraldry was shown by the German Central Office for Heraldry, the only coat of arms for the citizen Aichelmann is recorded in the Yearbook of the Kaiser König (Emperor King) heraldic society "Eagle NF20" in Vienna 1910 page 109. The Coat (Shield) is shown in red with a right to left diagnal sash of silver that contains three green upright acorns. Adornment of the Crest (Shield) is a man dressed in red and holding in his right hand three green upright acorns. Crest (Shield) decorations are red and silver and swirls.

The Aichelmann family name is German and draws it's origin from habitation. Names of habitation mean that they come from the location or residence of the initial bearer or perhaps from the name of the town or village where they lived.

"In this particular instance, the name Aichelmann originates from the German word Eiche, signifying an oak tree. Thus the initial bearer of the surnmae would have been one who dwelled in the shadow of a large or distiinctive oak tree, or perhaps near a stand of young oak trees, which was often denoted by the term "Eichele". Variants of Aichelmann include Eichelmann and Eichelman" (The Historical Research Center) An early documented recording of Aichelmann is Eva Aichelmann, daughter of Nickolaus and Margreta Aichelmann who was baptized on February 02, 1577 at Groß Biegerau, now present day Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hesse, Germany.

Württemberg was fist known as Alemannia and was occupied in the 3rd century A.D. by the germanic tribe of Alemania and Suebi. The area was conquered by the Franks in 506 and became part of the eastern Frankish kingdom. In the 600's Christianity was introduced. In 1081 the name of the area was changed to Swabia by the Conrad of Wirtemberg.

In 1079, the area came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen up until 1268. As the Hohenstaufen dynasty declined, the Württemberg land increased. The first noble to carry on the name of Württemberg was Ulrich I in the 1200s.

During the French Revolution, Württemberg entered into a peace treaty with France in 1796. Frederick entered into an alliance with Napoleon in 1805 and provided troops agains Austria. After the defeat of Austria in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Austria agreed to recognize Frederick as King of Württemberg and on January 01, 1806, Württemberg was proclaimed as a Kingdom.

In 1805, Frederick abolished the constitutional powers of the estates, established a uniform law system and granted freedom of religion. In July of 1806, Württemberg joined Napoleon's confederation of the Rhine.

Württemberg sided with the allies after Napoleon's defeat. Württemberg and Bavaria founded the South German Zollverein in 1828.

Under Frederick's son Charles, Württemberg sided with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War and became a member of the German Empire in 1871.

Württemberg became a German State under the Weimar Regime. In 1952, it became part of the modern German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Being from Württemberg, the Aichelmann family may have spoken Hochdeutsch or Oberdeutsch, also known as High German. It is likely that the Aichelmann family also spoke High Alemannic which was spoken in the southern Black Forest region and areas in Switzerland. Alemannic later became Swabisch and this region of Alemmania became Swabia

Today, Swabisch is still spoken in many regions of Switzerland and Germany and is one of the best known dialects of the German language.

The Aichelmann family migrated to the United States mostly for the reasons including: shortages of food, work, and the threat of war.

Family members remaining in Württemberg kept the original spelling of Aichelmann. Those who were born in Germany and have migrated to the United States at the Port of Baltimore in Maryland, changed the spelling to Eichelmann upon arrival and registration. Finally, those who were born in the United Stated have used the Eichelman spelling as it remains today.