A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fate family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2874 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
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 centaure pass. sur une terrasse de sin., décochant une flèche de sa. d'un arc du même; la partie humaine du centaure de carn., la tête posée de front, le reste du corps de la couleur d'un cheval bai. Brl. d'or et d'azur. C.: deux prob. coupées alt. d'or et d'azur. L.: d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Fate Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Fate arms are recorded
The Fate 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 Fate Family in Switzerland
The family name Fate has deep roots in the region of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents in this city by 1745. During the eighteenth century, Bâle was a prominent center for trade, banking, and the silk industry, attracting families who were often involved in skilled crafts or merchant activities. The name likely evolved as a localized variation of surnames common to the German-speaking border regions of Europe. As the family lived in a city defined by its position along the Rhine River, they were part of a vibrant urban society that placed a high value on education and professional guilds. Over time, the name persisted as the family moved through the changing political landscape of Central Europe, maintaining a connection to their ancestral home in the Swiss territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fatum
Latin term meaning destiny, fate, or divine decree.
This name
FateAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to one who predicts destiny or acts as a harbinger.
also spelled
Fatet
Fate
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)
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Basel (Stadt) (2002)
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
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
