A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fässler family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0611 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la barre d'or, ch. d'un barillet au nat., posé dans le sens de la barre. Cq. cour. C.: un cheval iss. d'arg.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Fässler Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Fässler arms are recorded
The Fässler arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Fässler Family in Switzerland
The surname Fässler is a classic example of an occupational name rooted in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vazzeler," which refers to a cooper or a barrel maker. During the medieval period, people were often identified by the trade they practiced, and those who crafted wooden casks for wine, beer, or storage became known by this title. By the time members of the family were documented in Bern in 1745, the name had been established for generations as a reflection of this essential craft. These early ancestors were likely skilled artisans who provided the necessary containers for the local agricultural and trade economy. As the family grew, the name transitioned from a simple description of a job into a permanent hereditary surname that linked its bearers to their industrious roots in the Swiss cantons.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fass
A large wooden container or barrel used for storage.
This name
FässlerAn occupational surname for a cooper or someone who made barrels.
also spelled
Fasler
Fasseler
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
Schweizerisches Idiotikon, Schweizerisches Idiotikon: Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881–present
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
