Map of Switzerland showing where the Basson arms are recorded
The Basson arms were recorded in Lausanne, c. 1725.
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 Basson Family in Switzerland
The family name Basson has deep roots in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, particularly around the city of Lausanne. By the early 18th century, members of the family were well-established residents in this area, contributing to the local community as it transitioned through a period of significant social and political change. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the French word "bassin," which historically referred to someone who lived near a basin, a valley, or a low-lying area of land. As families in the 1700s often moved between neighboring towns for trade or agriculture, the Bassons became part of the vibrant cultural landscape of the Vaud region. Their presence in Lausanne by 1725 highlights a long history of settlement in the heart of Europe, where they lived through the era of the Bernese occupation and the eventual rise of the modern Swiss state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bassus
Latin term meaning thick, dense, or stout.
This name
BassonA locative or descriptive surname referring to a person of stout build or from a low-lying area.
also spelled
Boson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives cantonales vaudoises, État civil ancien (Registres paroissiaux de Lausanne)
Archives de la Ville de Lausanne, Registres des habitants et bourgeois
Godet, Marcel, Dictionnaire historique et biographique de la Suisse, 1921
Secretan, Marc, Lausanne à travers les âges, 1942
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bellA call to prayer, and a warning given
bellA call to prayer, and a warning given
