A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreis family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4029 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu.; à un homme iss., hab. de l'un en l'autre, tenant une branche de trois feuilles de tilleul de sin. C.: l'homme iss.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Dreis Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dreis arms are recorded
The Dreis arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Dreis Family in Switzerland
The surname Dreis traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely developed as a descriptive name or a variation of local occupational titles. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records confirm that members of the family were living and working in this bustling trade hub by 1745. During this era, Bâle served as a vital center for commerce and culture, attracting families who were often involved in skilled crafts or merchant activities. As the family settled into the social fabric of the region, they became part of the long history of migration and urban development that defined the Rhine River valley. This early documentation in Bâle suggests that the ancestors of the modern Dreis family were integrated into the professional life of a significant European city during the mid-1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Andreas
Derived from the Greek word for man or manly.
This name
DreisA patronymic form originating as a short version of the name Andrew.
also spelled
Dreysse
Drice
Dreis
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Basel (1745)
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen (1957)
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
