A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duden family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1788 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à trois roses d'arg., bout. et barbées d'or, tigées et feuillées de sin. C.: une rose de l'écu, entre un vol d'arg.”
SwitzerlandZurich, c. 1745
Where the Duden Arms Were Recorded
Zurich
Map of Switzerland showing where the Duden arms are recorded
The Duden arms were recorded in Zurich, 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 Duden Family in Switzerland
The surname Duden is primarily rooted in the Low German and Dutch linguistic regions, where it originated as a nickname or a shortened form of personal names like Dudo. While the name is most famously associated with the German lexicographer Konrad Duden, historical records confirm that the family had established a notable presence in Zurich by 1745. During the eighteenth century, families with this name often moved across European borders for trade and craftsmanship, which explains how the lineage transitioned from its northern origins into the Swiss cantons. In these early communities, the Duden name was frequently linked to individuals who held roles as skilled artisans or merchants. By settling in Zurich, these early family members became part of the city's vibrant urban development during the mid-eighteenth century, helping to anchor the name within the local historical record.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dudo
An ancient Germanic personal name derived from the word for fool.
This name
DudenA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person originally nicknamed the fool.
also spelled
Dudden
Duddenn
Dudenn
Related arms
Duddenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Eheregister und Bürgerrechtsverzeichnisse, 1745
Dudenredaktion, Duden: Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20 000 Nachnamen, 2005
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
