A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bodman family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9060 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à trois feuilles de tilleul de sin., les tiges en haut. C.: un chapeau pyramidal d'arg., sommé sur le rebord et sur le sommet de plumes de paon au nat.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Bodman arms are recorded
The Bodman arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Bodman Family in Switzerland
The family name Bodman is rooted in the history of the German-speaking regions of Europe, with significant records placing members of the family in the city of Bern by 1745. The name is generally considered a topographical or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "bodem," which refers to the ground, a floor, or a specific piece of land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely associated with the management of property or lived on a distinct plot of land that defined their identity within their local community. By the mid-18th century, the Bodman family had established themselves within the social and administrative structures of Bern, a city known for its strict record-keeping and organized citizenship rolls. As they integrated into the life of the city, the family name became a permanent fixture in the regional history of the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bode
Old High German word for messenger or herald.
This name
BodmanRefers to a person who lived near or served as a guard at a fortified dwelling.
also spelled
Bodman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), 2002
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Zürcher, Christoph, Die Familie Bodman in der Schweiz, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
leafHappiness and abundance
leafHappiness and abundance
