A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Attal family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2169 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à l'étoile d'or; au 2 d'or à deux pointes d'azur, posées en chev., mouv. des angles de la p. C.: une étoile d'or.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Attal Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Attal arms are recorded
The Attal 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 Attal Family in Switzerland
The family name Attal has deep roots that connect to the movement of Jewish communities across Europe. While the name is often associated with North African and Mediterranean regions, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Swiss city of Bern by 1745. During this period, families with this surname were frequently involved in trade and commerce, which required them to travel between major urban centers. The name itself is thought to derive from Hebrew origins, potentially linked to the word for a gift or a person of high status. As these families settled in places like Bern, they integrated into local economic life while maintaining their unique cultural identity. Their presence in Swiss archives during the mid-eighteenth century highlights a history of migration and adaptation as the family navigated the shifting borders and social structures of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Atta
A Gothic or Germanic term meaning father or ancestor.
This name
AttalA surname of Germanic origin denoting a descendant of a father figure or elder.
also spelled
Atal
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Juden- und Fremdenverzeichnisse (1745)
Mentgen, Gerd, Studien zur Geschichte der Juden im mittelalterlichen Elsass (1995)
Roth, Cecil, A History of the Jews in England (1941)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
