A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernet family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0057 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
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)
“D'or à deux pattes d'ours de sa., passées en saut., les ongles en haut. C.: une étoile d'or.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Bernet Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bernet arms are recorded
The Bernet 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 Bernet Family in Switzerland
The surname Bernet is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss city of Bern. By the mid-18th century, families carrying this name were well-established residents of the region. The name itself is likely a topographic identifier, which means it was used to describe people who lived in or originated from the city of Bern. During the 1700s, life in this area was defined by the strict social and political structures of the Old Swiss Confederacy. Families like the Bernets were often involved in the local trades, agriculture, or the administrative life of the city. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Swiss society, contributing to the development of the region through their work and community involvement. Their presence in 1745 marks a time when the city was a powerful center of influence, and the family name served as a clear link to their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
Derived from the Germanic word for bear.
This name
BernetA topographic name for someone living near the city of Bern or a diminutive form of Bernard.
also spelled
Berned
Burnet
Related arms
Hertenbergsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Bern (Gemeinde), 2004
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
