A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreiss family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9156 · 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 Dreiss Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dreiss arms are recorded
The Dreiss 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 Dreiss Family in Switzerland
The surname Dreiss finds its historical roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational or personal name. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. During this period, Bâle served as a vital center for trade and craftsmanship, attracting families who contributed to the city's growing economic influence. The presence of the Dreiss family in this region suggests they were likely integrated into the local urban society, participating in the professional guilds or merchant networks that defined life in the city during the 1740s. As the family moved through the changing political landscape of the Rhine valley, they maintained their identity while adapting to the cultural shifts of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dries
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Andreas meaning manly or brave.
This name
DreissA surname originating from a nickname for someone named Andrew or a descendant of Andrew.
also spelled
Dreysse
Drice
Dreis
Related arms
Kaisersimilar arms
Schultasimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel (1745)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
