A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cuisine family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3996 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
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 au saut. d'arg., cant. de quatre los. du même.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Cuisine Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Cuisine arms are recorded
The Cuisine 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 Cuisine Family in Switzerland
The family name Cuisine has deep roots in the historical landscape of Switzerland, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Bern by 1745. During the mid-eighteenth century, Bern was a powerful center of trade and political influence, and families settled there often integrated into the local guild systems or agricultural networks that defined the region. The name itself suggests a connection to the culinary arts or the management of household provisions, which may indicate that early ancestors served as skilled professionals in the kitchens of elite estates or operated as merchants within the bustling markets of the Swiss Confederation. As the family established their presence in this urban environment, they navigated the complex social structures of the time, contributing to the local economy and the steady growth of the city. Their survival and integration into Bernese society reflect the broader patterns of migration and professional specialization that shaped the lives of many families in eighteenth-century Switzerland.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à un cerf pass. d'or.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Cuisine Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cuisine arms are recorded
The Cuisine arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Switzerland when the Cuisine arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Cuisine Family in France
The family name Cuisine finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. In the French language, the word cuisine refers to the art of cooking or the kitchen itself, suggesting that the name likely began as a descriptive occupational surname. During the seventeenth century, individuals were often identified by their specific trade or their role within a household, and those associated with the preparation of food or the management of a kitchen were frequently given this designation. Living in the coastal region of Brittany, these early ancestors were likely integrated into the local community through their specialized skills. As the family grew and moved throughout the province, the name became a permanent marker of their professional heritage and their deep connection to the culinary traditions of the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Culina
Latin term referring to a kitchen or a place for cooking.
This name
CuisineAn occupational surname for someone who worked in a kitchen or as a cook.
also spelled
Cuisyne
Kweezin
Cuisin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern (1745)
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Die Stadt Bern im 18. Jahrhundert (2012)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
