A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benedict family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6291 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“De gu. au lion d'or, tenant entre ses pattes une tête de marteau du même, percée en rond. C.: le lion, iss.”
SwitzerlandCoire, c. 1725
Where the Benedict Arms Were Recorded
Coire
Map of Switzerland showing where the Benedict arms are recorded
The Benedict arms were recorded in Coire, 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 Benedict Family in Switzerland
The surname Benedict originates from the Latin word *benedictus*, which translates to blessed or well-spoken. Throughout history, the name was frequently adopted by individuals to honor Saint Benedict of Nursia, a prominent figure who established influential monastic traditions in Europe. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Benedict family were established in the city of Coire, which is known today as Chur in the Swiss canton of Grisons. During this period, families in this region often lived in close-knit communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain ancestral ties. The presence of the family in Coire suggests they were part of the local social fabric during a time when the city served as a vital hub for trade and administration in the Alpine valleys.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benedictus
Derived from the Latin word meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BenedictA surname signifying a person who is blessed or highly favored.
also spelled
Benedick
Benedikt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Staatsarchiv Graubünden, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Chur (Church records of the city of Chur)
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
