A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burki family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8701 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une tour d'arg., ouv. du champ, sommée de trois tourelles du sec. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBerne, c. 1745
Where the Burki Arms Were Recorded
Berne
Map of Switzerland showing where the Burki arms are recorded
The Burki arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Burki Family in Switzerland
The surname Bürki is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss Canton of Bern, where families bearing this name were well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name is considered a diminutive form, likely derived from the Germanic word "burg," which refers to a fortified place or a small castle. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors were individuals who lived near or worked within such defensive structures. By 1745, records confirm that the Bürki family was already a recognized part of the local community, living within the social and political framework of the Bernese region. As was common for families of that era, they were often tied to specific rural parishes or agricultural lands, contributing to the development of the local economy and the unique cultural identity of the Bernese Oberland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg
A fortified place, castle, or protected settlement.
This name
BurkiA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near or worked at a small castle or fortification.
also spelled
Burky
Related arms
Nötzlisimilar arms
Burkyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
H. Türler, Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 1924
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinden im Kanton Bern
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
