A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beckel family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8099 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une fleur-de-lis d'or, posée au centre de deux annelets concentriques d'arg. C.: un buste d'homme, tort. d'or et d'azur, ayant un bec de cigogne, hab. aux armes de l'écu. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Beckel Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Beckel arms are recorded
The Beckel arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Beckel Family in Switzerland
The family name Beckel finds its historical roots in the region surrounding the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the Beckel family were established residents of this area. The name is likely derived from the Germanic word "bach," which refers to a small stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family may have lived near a water source or were identified by their proximity to a specific landscape feature. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of the Rhine valley, participating in the trades and community life typical of eighteenth-century Swiss society. Over time, the family name spread as individuals moved through the region for work or to seek new opportunities, carrying their history from the banks of the Rhine into broader European territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bach
A small stream or brook.
This name
BeckelA topographic name for someone who lived near a small stream or brook.
also spelled
Bekel
Beckl
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Basel, 1745
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
