A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aebi family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8296 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 treillis carré de quatre bâtons alésés d'arg., et en coeur un trèfle de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab d'un parti d'or et de gu., rebr. de l'un à l'autre, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais de sa., retr. du même, tenant de chaque main un trèfle de sin. L. d'or et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Aebi Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Aebi arms are recorded
The Aebi 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 Aebi Family in Switzerland
The family name Aebi is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, particularly within the canton of Bern. The name is considered a topographic surname, which means it likely originated from a person’s connection to a specific landscape feature. In many local dialects, the term "Aebi" refers to a small meadow or a piece of low-lying land near a stream. Families who lived on or near these specific plots of land often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their rural communities. By the mid-18th century, the Aebi family was well-established in the Bernese region, where they were integrated into the local agricultural and social structures of the time. These early ancestors were typically hardworking farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the development of their villages through generations of local residency.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abe
Old High German word for a fir tree or coniferous forest.
This name
AebiA topographic name for someone who lived near a fir tree or forest.
also spelled
Aeby
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Müller, Josef, Schweizerisches Idiotikon: Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinden im Kanton Bern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
