A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cussen family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0591 · Swiss, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'or. C.: un homme d'armes iss., posé de profil, tenant une hallebarde, posée sur son épaule.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Cussen Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Cussen arms are recorded
The Cussen 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 Cussen Family in Switzerland
The family name Cussen is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Central Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Bern by 1745. During the eighteenth century, Bern served as a prominent center for trade and administration within the Old Swiss Confederacy, attracting families who often held roles in local commerce or municipal governance. While the name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the German-speaking cantons, its presence in Bern suggests that the family was well-integrated into the urban life of the era. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant political stability in Switzerland, which allowed families to establish long-standing roots in specific districts. By tracking these early records, we gain a clearer picture of how the Cussen name moved through the social structures of the time, transitioning from local residents to established members of the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cus
Derived from the Latin word for a helmet or protective covering.
This name
CussenRefers to a descendant of a person who wore a helmet or served as a guard.
also spelled
Kussen
Cusen
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 Geschichte der Stadt Bern (2010)
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
