A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Favro family of Switzerland.
Reg. 7233 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Taillé d'or sur gu.; l'or ch. d'un ours naiss. de sa., mouv. du taillé.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Favro Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Favro arms are recorded
The Favro 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 Favro Family in Switzerland
The surname Favro is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Alpine regions, where it likely originated as an occupational name for a blacksmith. The name is derived from the Latin word faber, which refers to a skilled craftsman or metalworker. By the middle of the eighteenth century, members of the Favro family had established a presence in the city of Bern. During this era, Bern was a powerful city-state where families often settled to participate in the growing trade and administrative networks of the Swiss Confederation. The presence of the family in Bern by 1745 suggests they were part of a mobile population that moved across regional borders to seek new opportunities in urban centers. Over time, the name evolved through various local dialects, eventually stabilizing into the form recognized today as the family moved through different European territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Faber
Latin term for a craftsman, smith, or maker.
This name
FavroAn occupational surname denoting a descendant of a blacksmith or metalworker.
also spelled
Favrode
Favrodd
Favrods
Favro
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
State Archives of the Canton of Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
