A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Draz family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5966 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec. en saut.: en chef d'azur à deux fasces d'or; à dextre et à sen. d'arg. à l'aigle de gu., cour. du même; en p. d'or à cinq pals de gu. A une tour de sa., br. en coeur sur l'écartelé.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Draz arms are recorded
The Draz 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 Draz Family in Switzerland
The Draz family name has deep roots in the Swiss city of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1745. During the eighteenth century, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Draz were often integrated into the local craft or merchant guilds that defined city life. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer Germanic surname common to the Alpine region. As residents of a major urban center, early family members would have navigated the complex political and religious landscape of the Swiss Confederacy, likely working as skilled laborers or tradespeople. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were established citizens who participated in the daily administrative and social functions of Bernese society during a period of significant regional stability.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drach
Middle High German term for a dragon or mythical serpent.
This name
DrazA topographic or habitational name for someone living near a dragon-shaped landmark or sign.
also spelled
Deria
Deryas
de Reeaz
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)
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (Register of Swiss Surnames), 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
