A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cristine family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0286 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une tête et col de lévrier d'arg., coll. d'or.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Cristine Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Cristine arms are recorded
The Cristine 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 Cristine Family in Switzerland
The family name Cristine traces its roots to the deep cultural traditions of the Swiss region, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of Bern by 1745. During the mid-eighteenth century, Bern was a powerful city-state where families were often categorized by their trade, local land ownership, or their specific parish affiliations. The name itself is a variation of the Latin name Christianus, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely adopted the name as a way to honor their religious heritage. As residents of Bern, these early family members were part of a highly organized society that kept meticulous records of births, marriages, and property taxes. By living in such a well-documented urban center, the Cristine family became part of the administrative history of the Swiss Confederation, reflecting the stability and civic engagement common among families in the region during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Christus
The anointed one or the messiah in ancient Greek and Latin.
This name
CristineA follower of Christ or one who is anointed.
also spelled
Kristine
Kristeen
Cristin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church records of the city of Bern)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern (Citizenship registers of the city of Bern)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts (City and country in 18th-century Switzerland), 1980
Stettler, Bernhard, Die Eidgenossenschaft im 18. Jahrhundert (The Swiss Confederation in the 18th century), 1995
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
