A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bleiler family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5367 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 une fleur-de-lis d'or. C.: la fleur-de-lis.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Bleiler Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bleiler arms are recorded
The Bleiler 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 Bleiler Family in Switzerland
The family name Bleiler is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Upper Rhine region, with documented evidence placing early ancestors in the city of Bâle by the year 1745. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word *blī*, which refers to lead, suggesting that the family’s original trade may have been linked to metalworking, plumbing, or the crafting of lead-based goods. During the eighteenth century, Bâle served as a vital hub for trade and craftsmanship, providing a stable environment for families to establish their livelihoods and integrate into the local urban community. As these early members settled into the city, they became part of the intricate social fabric of the region, where surnames often acted as markers of a family’s professional identity or their specific geographic origin. This transition from a trade-based identifier to a permanent family name reflects the broader patterns of social development and record-keeping that defined life in Swiss and German territories during the mid-1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blei
German word for the metal lead.
This name
BleilerAn occupational surname for a worker who dealt with lead, such as a plumber or glazier.
also spelled
Bleyler
Bliler
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
