A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bienne family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9805 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur arg.; à deux haches, passées en saut., de l'un en l'autre. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
SwitzerlandNeufchâtel, c. 1745
Where the Bienne Arms Were Recorded
Neufchâtel
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bienne arms are recorded
The Bienne arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, 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 Bienne Family in Switzerland
The family name Bienne is deeply rooted in the history of the Neuchâtel region in Switzerland. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by 1745, living within a landscape defined by the Jura Mountains and the nearby lake. During the eighteenth century, families in this region often lived in small, tightly knit communities where they worked in agriculture, watchmaking, or local trade. The name itself likely originated as a topographic identifier, linking the family to the town of Bienne or the surrounding river valley. As the family grew, they became part of the social and economic fabric of the principality of Neuchâtel, which was then a unique territory with strong ties to both Swiss neighbors and the Prussian monarchy. By settling in this specific part of the world, the early Bienne family members contributed to the development of a region known for its craftsmanship and its distinct cultural identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bienna
A Celtic term referring to a settlement or a river location.
This name
BienneDerived from the Swiss city of Biel/Bienne, denoting someone originating from that specific region.
also spelled
Byenne
Byen
Been
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État de Neuchâtel, Fonds de l'état civil de Neuchâtel
Archives de la Ville de Neuchâtel, Registres des habitants et bourgeois
Baud, Jean-Pierre, Le droit de Neuchâtel, 1980
Henry, Philippe, Histoire du canton de Neuchâtel, 1991
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
axeThe execution of military duty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
axeThe execution of military duty
