A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bastia family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8592 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à une tour de sa. sur une terrasse rocheuse d'or.”
SwitzerlandValais, c. 1745
Where the Bastia Arms Were Recorded
Valais
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bastia arms are recorded
The Bastia arms were recorded in Valais, c. 1745.
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 Bastia Family in Switzerland
The family name Bastia finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Valais region in Switzerland. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents within this alpine territory. The name itself likely evolved from local geographic markers or early settlement patterns common to the French and Italian-speaking borderlands of the Alps. Families in this area during the eighteenth century were typically tied to the land through farming, cattle herding, or trade routes that connected the high mountain passes. As the Bastia family grew, they became part of the long-standing social fabric of the Valais, contributing to the development of local communities that relied on cooperation to survive the harsh winters. Their presence in the mid-1700s marks them as part of the foundational population that helped shape the unique cultural identity of this Swiss canton.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sebastianus
Derived from the Greek word sebastos meaning venerable or revered.
This name
BastiaA locative surname referring to someone originating from the town of Bastia.
also spelled
Bastiaan
Bastya
Bastyah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État du Valais, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien diocèse de Sion
Archives de l'État du Valais, Fonds des familles valaisannes
Arnold, Joseph, Histoire du Valais, 1995
Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS), 2002
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
