Map of Switzerland showing where the Chart arms are recorded
The Chart 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 Chart Family in Switzerland
The family name Chart has deep roots tied to the historic city of Bern, Switzerland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social structure, and families living within its borders were often deeply integrated into the local trade or agricultural systems. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common in the German-speaking cantons, possibly serving as a descriptive label for an ancestor’s occupation or their specific place of residence near a local landmark. As the family grew, they became part of the vibrant urban life of the eighteenth century, navigating the complex political and economic changes that defined the Swiss Confederation during the Enlightenment. Their presence in the city archives suggests that they were recognized citizens who participated in the administrative and social life of the region, helping to shape the local community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
charta
Latin term for paper, leaf, or written document.
This name
ChartA topographical or occupational name referring to someone living near a map-making area or a scribe.
also spelled
Chuard
Kuart
Shuart
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Bern (Gemeinde), 2002
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
