A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bruehl family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5073 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 la croix de sa. ou d'az., ch. de cinq feuilles de rosier du champ, les trois en pal ayant les queues en bas, les deux autres couchées et ayant les queues vers les flancs de l'écu.”
SwitzerlandGenève, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Bruehl arms are recorded
The Bruehl arms were recorded in Genève, 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 Bruehl Family in Switzerland
The family name Bruehl originates from the German language and refers to a specific type of landscape. In Middle High German, the word "brüel" described a low-lying, swampy meadow or a fenced-in piece of land near a river. Families who took this name often lived near these wet, fertile areas, which were highly valued for grazing livestock. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a presence in the city of Genève. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Bruehl family were living in this Swiss hub during a time when the city was a center for international banking and watchmaking. Their migration from German-speaking regions to Genève suggests that they were likely part of the movement of skilled workers or merchants who sought new opportunities in the prosperous trade networks of the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bruel
A Middle High German term for a swampy or marshy meadow.
This name
BruehlRefers to someone who lived near a wet, low-lying meadow or a small wooded area.
also spelled
Brueil
Bruehl
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
Archives d’État de Genève, État civil et registres paroissiaux, 1745
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
cross symbolChristian faith and service
leafHappiness and abundance
