Map of Switzerland showing where the Carty arms are recorded
The Carty 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 Carty Family in Switzerland
The history of the Carty name in Switzerland is deeply tied to the social and political landscape of the eighteenth century. By 1745, records confirm that members of the family were established residents in the city of Bern. During this era, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict patrician class, and families who settled there often integrated into the local administrative or merchant circles to secure their standing. While the name itself possesses roots that stretch across Western Europe, its presence in the Swiss capital suggests a family that moved through the professional networks of the time. These early settlers likely navigated the complex citizenship laws of the Old Swiss Confederacy, which required families to maintain strong ties to their local parish and trade guilds. Their documented presence in Bern highlights a period of migration where families sought stability within the influential urban centers of the Alps.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a saltire gu. betw. four palm trees, erased vert”
BedfordLondon · Bedford, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Carty arms are recorded
The Carty arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Switzerland when the Carty arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bedford.
Origin & History of the Carty Family in England
The surname Carty has deep roots that connect to the social and geographical shifts of seventeenth-century England. While the name is often associated with Irish origins, historical records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the town of Bedford by 1620. During this period, Bedford was a growing market town where families often settled to participate in the local trade and agricultural economy. The presence of the Carty name in these early parish registers suggests that the family was part of the common citizenry who helped shape the local community through their work and daily lives. By settling in this region, these early ancestors became part of the long-standing demographic history of Bedfordshire, living through a time of significant religious and political change in England.
Carty Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Carthach
An ancient Gaelic term meaning loving or affectionate.
This name
CartyA surname derived from a personal name signifying a loving or affectionate person.
also spelled
Kart
Karth
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
Stadtarchiv Bern, Einwohnerverzeichnisse des 18. Jahrhunderts
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Der Kanton Bern im Zeitalter des Ancien Régime, 1995
Wirz, Hans Georg, Die Stadt Bern im 18. Jahrhundert, 1953
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
