A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burckhardt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5310 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à une croix latine pattée, enlacée avec un S, le tout de sa.; à la bord. de sa. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, de sa. et d'or [v. Burkart.]”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Burckhardt Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Burckhardt arms are recorded
The Burckhardt 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 Burckhardt Family in Switzerland
The Burckhardt family name has deep roots in the city of Basel, Switzerland, where it emerged as a prominent lineage of merchants and civic leaders. While records confirm their established presence in the city by 1745, the family’s influence dates back much further to the late Middle Ages. The name itself is a variation of the Germanic name Burkhard, which combines elements meaning fortress and brave or strong. As the family grew in Basel, they became deeply integrated into the city’s political and economic life, often serving in high-ranking government positions and contributing to the development of local trade. Their history is closely tied to the rise of Basel as a center for banking and international commerce, reflecting a broader trend of influential families shaping the urban identity of Swiss city-states over several centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 tour de gu., couverte d'un toit pointu du même, posée sur un”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Burckhardt Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Burckhardt arms are recorded
The Burckhardt arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Switzerland when the Burckhardt arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
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.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Burckhardt Family in Germany
The surname Burckhardt finds its roots in the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it evolved from the Old High German name Burghard. This name is composed of two distinct parts: "burg," meaning a fortified castle or town, and "hard," meaning brave or strong. By the time the family established a documented presence in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already been in use for centuries as a way to identify individuals who were associated with the protection of local strongholds. During this era, families often lived in small, tight-knit communities where names were passed down to reflect the values of strength and duty. The Burckhardt family in Bavaria likely participated in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined the region during the eighteenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the German states, contributing to the local history of the Bavarian landscape through their daily work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg-hard
Derived from Old High German words for fortress and hardy or brave.
This name
BurckhardtA name signifying a person who is as strong, protected, or brave as a fortress.
also spelled
Burckhart
Burckhard
Burkhart
Burkard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Burckhardt, Carl Jacob, Meine Basler Zeit, 1959
Sarasin, Philipp, Die Stadt der Bürger: Bürgerliche Lebenswelten in Basel 1860–1900, 1997
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
