A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dunkel family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6668 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. à trois tuyaux d'or, posés en pals, rangés en fasce, surm. chacun d'une étoile du même et acc. en p. d'un tertre de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab. de gu., au rabat d'or, coiffé d'un bonnet de gu., retr. d'or, tenant de sa main dextre un tuyau d'or en pal, et de sa sen. une étoile d'or.”
SwitzerlandBerne, c. 1745
Where the Dunkel Arms Were Recorded
Berne
Map of Switzerland showing where the Dunkel arms are recorded
The Dunkel arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Dunkel Family in Switzerland
The surname Dunkel originates from the Middle High German word *dunkel*, which translates to dark or dim. Historically, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a dark complexion or perhaps someone who lived in a shaded area. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Dunkel family were well-established in the region of Berne, Switzerland. During this era, families in the Swiss cantons were deeply connected to their local parishes, where life revolved around agriculture and trade. The presence of the Dunkel name in Berne by 1745 suggests that these ancestors were part of a stable community that maintained detailed civil and religious registries. These early records provide a window into a time when families were deeply rooted in their specific geographical locations, often passing down their names and trades through generations within the same mountain valleys.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dunkel
Old High German word meaning dark, obscure, or gloomy.
This name
DunkelA descriptive nickname for someone with dark hair, a dark complexion, or a mysterious personality.
also spelled
Dunkel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
State Archives of the Canton of Bern, Kirchenbücher (Parish Registers), 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
