A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bigler family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0055 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un fer-à-cheval d'arg., les bouts en bas, br. sur deux clous d'or, passés en saut.; acc. en chef d'un soc de charrue d'arg. entre deux étoiles d'or, et en p. d'un tertre de sin. C.: un homme”
SwitzerlandBerne, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Bigler arms are recorded
The Bigler arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Bigler Family in Switzerland
The Bigler family name has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Berne, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the year 1745. The name is considered a topographic surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place or landscape feature where the earliest ancestors lived. In the local German dialect of the region, the name is often associated with the word "Bühel" or "Bühl," which refers to a small hill or a mound of earth. This suggests that the first people to carry the name were likely farmers or residents who lived near a prominent hill in the Bernese countryside. Over many generations, the family became deeply integrated into the social and political fabric of the region, contributing to the agricultural and civic life that defined the Swiss cantons during the eighteenth century.
Bigler Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
bügel
A bow, hoop, or curved metal handle.
This name
BiglerAn occupational name for a maker of buckles, bows, or curved metal implements.
also spelled
Bygler
Biglar
Related arms
Beiglervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, 1957
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinde Bern
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
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
