A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castella family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2146 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un château carré d'or, sommé de trois tourelles carrées du même, celle du milieu plus large que les deux autres, ouv. et aj. d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Castella Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Castella arms are recorded
The Castella 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 Castella Family in Switzerland
The family name Castella carries a rich history rooted in the geography of the Swiss region. The name is derived from the Latin word *castellum*, which refers to a castle or a fortified place. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent stronghold or served as guards for a local fortification. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the Castella family were well-established residents of Bern. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the social and civic life of the city, frequently participating in the local trades and administrative roles that defined Swiss urban life in the eighteenth century. As the family grew, they maintained their presence in the region, contributing to the cultural and historical landscape of the Swiss Confederation through their work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
castellum
A Latin term referring to a small fort, castle, or fortified place.
This name
CastellaA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked at a castle.
also spelled
Castellay
Castell
Kastela
Related arms
Castellvariant spelling
Castellivariant spelling
Castellovariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Godet, Marcel, Türler, Heinrich, and Attinger, Victor, Dictionnaire historique et biographique de la Suisse, 1924
Stadler, Hans, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2003
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
