A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ernest family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5662 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un bélier naiss. de sa., mouv. d'un tertre de sin. Brl. de sa. et d'or. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de sa. entre deux d'or ou, une d'or entre deux de sa. L. d'or et de sa.”
SilesiaBerne · Silesia, c. 1745
Where the Ernest Arms Were Recorded
Map of Switzerland showing where the Ernest arms are recorded
The Ernest arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1745.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Ernest Family in Switzerland
The family name Ernest originates from the Germanic word *ernust*, which translates to serious, steadfast, or resolute. In the context of the mid-eighteenth century, the name functioned as a descriptor for an individual’s character or moral standing within their community. By 1745, records confirm that members of the Ernest family were established in the region of Silesia, which was then a territory under the control of the Kingdom of Prussia. During this period, Silesia was a hub of agricultural and industrial development, and families like the Ernests often held roles as landowners, craftsmen, or local officials. Because the name was rooted in a positive personal trait, it was frequently passed down through generations as a way to honor the perceived integrity of one’s ancestors. Over time, the family became deeply integrated into the social fabric of the region, reflecting the broader migration and settlement patterns of central Europe during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ernust
Old High German word meaning serious or resolute.
This name
ErnestA name signifying a person who is sincere, earnest, and determined in their actions.
also spelled
Erneste
Ernst
Related arms
Ernstvariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Akta miasta Wrocławia, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
