A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bolli family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4129 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
Colours
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'or à une femme iss., hab. d'azur, coiffée d'une toque du même, les avant-bras nus, les mains appuyées sur les hanches, mouv. d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: la figure de l'écu. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Bolli Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bolli arms are recorded
The Bolli 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 Bolli Family in Switzerland
The Bolli family name has deep roots in the region surrounding Bâle, Switzerland, where members were firmly established by the middle of the eighteenth century. Historically, the name is associated with the Alemannic linguistic traditions of the Upper Rhine, suggesting that the family likely emerged from the local Germanic-speaking populations that inhabited the borderlands between Switzerland, France, and Germany. By 1745, records indicate that the Bolli family was integrated into the social and economic life of the Bâle area, where they likely participated in the region’s thriving trade and craft industries. As the family grew, they became part of the long-standing tradition of Swiss citizenship, which was often tied to specific local municipalities and parishes. Their presence in the city during this era reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the urban identity and administrative history of the Swiss cantons during the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bolo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for brother or friend.
This name
BolliA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person originally named Bolo or Boli.
also spelled
Bolly
Bollie
Bollih
Boli
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Schweizerisches Idiotikon: Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
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
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
