Map of Switzerland showing where the Clery arms are recorded
The Clery arms were recorded in Fribourg, 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 Clery Family in Switzerland
The family name Clery has deep roots in European history, with significant records placing the family in the Swiss city of Fribourg by 1745. The name is often linked to the French word "clerc," which historically referred to a person who served in a clerical or scholarly role within the church or local government. Because literacy was rare during the Middle Ages, individuals who could read and write were highly valued and often held positions of influence in their communities. As the family established itself in Fribourg, they became part of the region's long tradition of civic participation and trade. Over time, the name evolved through different spellings as families moved across borders, but it consistently maintained its connection to these early roles of administration and public service.
Clery Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Clericus
A person in a religious order or a member of the clergy.
This name
CleryDerived from a professional title denoting someone who served in a church or administrative role.
also spelled
Clerie
Cleree
Cleary
Related arms
Clereysimilar arms
Clerievariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives de l'État de Fribourg, Registres des bourgeois de la ville de Fribourg
Book: Morerod, Jean-Daniel, Fribourg: Une ville, un canton, une histoire, 2011
Book: Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Familles de Fribourg, 2002
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
