A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berri family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2038 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à l'ours pass. de sa.; au 2 fascé de sa. et d'or, de quatre pièces. C.: un ours iss. de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Berri Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Berri arms are recorded
The Berri 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 Berri Family in Switzerland
The Berri family name has deep roots in the Swiss city of Bâle, where records confirm their presence as early as 1745. During this period, Bâle served as a bustling center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Berris were often integrated into the local urban economy. The name itself likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common way to identify people by the region or town they came from before moving to a new area. As members of the Bâle community in the mid-eighteenth century, the family would have navigated the strict social and guild structures that defined Swiss city life at the time. Over the following decades, the family became a part of the historical fabric of the region, contributing to the local workforce and the evolving culture of the city as it transitioned into the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à la fasce d'arg., ch. de trois flanchis de sa.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Berri Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Berri arms are recorded
The Berri arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Switzerland when the Berri arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Navarre.
Origin & History of the Berri Family in France
The history of the Berri family name is deeply tied to the movement of people across the border regions of France and Spain. While the name is famously associated with the historical province of Berry in central France, records show that family members were firmly established in the Kingdom of Navarre by 1663. During this era, Navarre served as a cultural crossroads where French and Basque influences blended together. Families living in this region often moved between the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains for trade and agricultural work. Because the name Berri translates to new in the Basque language, it is likely that the family was identified by their status as newcomers or settlers in the specific villages where they first put down roots. This migration pattern reflects a time when families frequently relocated to find better farmland or to escape the political instability that often affected the borderlands between the French and Spanish crowns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ber
Old High German term for a bear.
This name
BerriA habitational name for someone living near a berry patch or a bear habitat.
also spelled
Berry
Berree
Berrie
Related arms
Berryvariant spelling
Baumgartnerrecorded with Berri, same area
Brunrecorded with Berri, same area
Mathisrecorded with Berri, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel
Burckhardt, August, Die Bürger von Basel, 1940
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
