A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Breitenstein family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé d'arg. sur azur. C.: un chapeau piramidal d'arg., retr. d'azur, cour. d'or, sommé de trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
The Breitenstein 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.
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.
The name Breitenstein is a topographical surname, meaning it was originally derived from the physical landscape where a family lived. In German, the name translates to "broad stone" or "wide rock," likely referring to a prominent geographical feature near an early family settlement. While the name appears in various regions across the German-speaking world, its presence in Switzerland is deeply rooted in the history of the Basel region. By 1745, records confirm that members of the Breitenstein family were established in Basel, a city that served as a vital hub for trade and craftsmanship along the Rhine River. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the urban fabric of Swiss society, frequently working as skilled tradespeople or merchants. As the family grew, they became part of the local community structure, contributing to the economic and social development of the Basel area throughout the eighteenth century.
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honourJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à la licorne d'arg.”
The Breitenstein arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with arms.
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 Germany in this period.
Reigning in Switzerland when the Breitenstein arms are first recorded.
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
The family name Breitenstein is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the physical landscape where the first family members lived. In German, the name combines the words "breit," meaning broad or wide, and "stein," meaning stone or rock. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely resided near a prominent, wide rock formation or a large stone landmark in the region. By 1765, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany. During this era, Swabia was a collection of smaller territories and free imperial cities, and families often remained in the same rural villages for generations. The name served as a practical way to identify individuals based on their proximity to local geographical features, reflecting a time when people were deeply connected to the specific terrain of their home province.
Broad or wide and stone or rock.
