A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertsche family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1254 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
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 triangles vidés de sa., entrelacés en étoile et soutenus d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab. de sa., rebr. d'or, au rabat du même, tenant de sa main dextre un cerceau d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Bertsche Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bertsche arms are recorded
The Bertsche 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 Bertsche Family in Switzerland
The family name Bertsche traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Europe, with a significant historical presence in the city of Bâle, Switzerland, by the year 1745. The name is considered a diminutive form of the Germanic name Berthold, which combines the elements for bright and rule or power. During the eighteenth century, families with this surname were often integrated into the local urban culture of Bâle, a city known for its strong traditions in trade, printing, and craftsmanship. As the family established itself in the region, they became part of the complex social fabric of the Rhine valley. Over time, members of the family moved through these central European territories, carrying the name across borders and adapting to the changing political landscapes of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berchtold
Derived from the Germanic elements for bright and ruler.
This name
BertscheA diminutive or patronymic form referring to a descendant of someone named Berchtold.
also spelled
Bertsch
Bertshe
Related arms
Bertschvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt. Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister. 1745
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
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
