A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burkart family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9892 · 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 de sa., le fût accolé d'un S du même. C.: les meubles de l'écu [V. Burckhardt.]”
SwitzerlandSoleure, c. 1745
Where the Burkart Arms Were Recorded
Soleure
Map of Switzerland showing where the Burkart arms are recorded
The Burkart arms were recorded in Soleure, 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 Burkart Family in Switzerland
The surname Burkart originates from the Old High German name Burghard, which combines the words for fortress and brave or strong. This name was popular throughout German-speaking regions during the Middle Ages because it represented the ideal qualities of a protector. By the time the family was firmly established in the Swiss canton of Soleure by 1745, the name had evolved into a common hereditary surname. Families with this name often worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials within the Swiss Confederation. Living in a region like Soleure meant the Burkart family was part of a society that valued community organization and local governance. Over many generations, the name became a permanent marker of their identity and their long-standing presence in the Swiss landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burghard
Derived from the Germanic words for fortress and strong or brave.
This name
BurkartA surname signifying a person who is as strong or protected as a fortress.
also spelled
Burkard
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
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Solothurn, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei Solothurn (Tauf-, Ehe- und Totenrodel), 1745
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
