A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ballif family of Switzerland.
Reg. 7109 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. à la fasce de gu., ch. de deux étoiles (5) du champ, et acc. en chef d'une étoile (5) du sec. et en p. d'un trèfle de sin.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Ballif Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Ballif arms are recorded
The Ballif 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 Ballif Family in Switzerland
The family name Ballif has deep roots in the historic city of Bern, Switzerland, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Ballifs were often integrated into the local civic and economic life of the region. The name itself likely originated from regional dialects or occupational titles common in the German-speaking cantons, reflecting the family’s long-standing connection to the Swiss landscape. As residents of Bern, early Ballif family members would have navigated a society defined by guild memberships and local administrative traditions. Their presence in the city during the mid-eighteenth century suggests they were part of the stable middle class that helped maintain the city’s influence and order throughout the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bail
Derived from the Old French term for a bailiff or administrator.
This name
BallifAn occupational surname referring to a person who served as a local official or steward.
also spelled
Balyf
Baleef
Balliff
Related arms
Foucaultsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern
Burgerbibliothek Bern, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
