A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Converse family of Switzerland.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commanderJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à la bande ondée d'arg.”
The Converse arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, 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.
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.
The surname Converse is a variation of the French name Convers, which historically referred to a person who had converted to a religious life or joined a monastic order. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Neufchâtel. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the family were active participants in the local community during this period. As the family grew, the spelling of the name often shifted to adapt to the languages and customs of the areas where they settled. This evolution reflects the broader movement of families across Europe as they sought new opportunities for trade and agriculture. The presence of the family in Neufchâtel highlights their deep roots in the social and economic life of the region during the mid-1700s.
Latin term meaning turned around, changed, or converted.
