A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crête family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9391 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une tête et col de cerf de gu., mouv. d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Crête Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Crête arms are recorded
The Crête 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 Crête Family in Switzerland
The family name Crête carries a rich history that likely finds its roots in the French-speaking regions of Europe before spreading into neighboring areas like Switzerland. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the Crête family were established in the city of Bern. During this period, Bern was a prominent center of trade and political influence, suggesting that these early ancestors were likely integrated into the local urban economy or professional guilds. The name itself is often associated with the French word for a ridge or a crest, which may have originally served as a topographic nickname for someone living near a high point or a mountain peak. As the family settled in Bern, they would have navigated the unique cultural landscape of a city that served as a bridge between French and German linguistic traditions, marking them as part of the mobile and industrious populations that helped shape the region during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crista
Latin term for a crest, ridge, or tuft on a helmet.
This name
CrêteRefers to a person who lived near a mountain ridge or a prominent crest.
also spelled
Krete
Kret
Cret
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (State Archives of the Canton of Bern), Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church records of the city of Bern)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
