A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buren family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9562 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à trois ruches d'arg.; à la bord. du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un demi-vol cont., aux armes de l'écu (moins la bord.); 2º un chapeau piramidal de gu., sommé de trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Germanyc. 1747
Where the Buren Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Buren arms are recorded
The Buren arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1747.
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 Germany when the Buren 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 Buren Family in Germany
The name Buren finds its roots in the landscape of medieval Germany, where it functioned as a topographic surname. In the German language, the term *Buren* or *Bauer* historically referred to a person who lived near a farm or worked as a tiller of the soil. As families began to adopt permanent surnames during the Middle Ages, those living in rural settlements often took names that described their relationship to the land. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in Bavaria in 1747, the name had been established for generations as a marker of agrarian life. These early ancestors were likely part of the hardworking rural class that formed the backbone of the Bavarian economy. Their lives were defined by the seasonal rhythms of farming and the tight-knit social structures of village communities. Over time, the family name became a lasting connection to these ancestral roots in the southern German countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
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. au chev. de gu., sommé d'une feuille de tilleul sans tige de sin. C.: deux cornes de buffle de gu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Buren Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Buren arms are recorded
The Buren 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 Buren Family in Switzerland
The family name Buren is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss canton of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is topographical, likely derived from the Middle High German word *bur*, which referred to a small dwelling or a peasant’s hut. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who lived in or near a small settlement. By 1745, the family had integrated into the social and economic life of Bern, a city that served as a powerful center of trade and politics in the Swiss Confederation. During this era, families with names like Buren often held roles in local agriculture or craft guilds, contributing to the steady growth of the region. Their presence in the city archives during this time indicates that they were recognized citizens who participated in the administrative and communal duties required of residents in the Bernese territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bur
Old High German term referring to a small dwelling or hut.
This name
BurenA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a small house or farmstead.
also spelled
Buuren
Biren
Buran
Related arms
van Buerenvariant spelling
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
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
