A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feher family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2847 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une fleur-de-lis d'or; le champ chapé-ployé d'arg. à trois fasces de gu. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'or, entre un vol d'arg., chaque aile ch. de trois fasces de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Feher arms are recorded
The Feher 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 Feher Family in Switzerland
The surname Feher carries a distinct history that traces back to the linguistic roots of Central Europe before establishing a notable presence in the Swiss canton of Bern. While the name is widely recognized for its origins in Hungarian, meaning fair or light-colored, its appearance in Swiss records by 1745 suggests a period of migration and integration during the eighteenth century. Families bearing this name likely moved across borders for trade, craft specialization, or religious reasons, eventually settling into the structured society of Bern. Once established in the region, these families became part of the local demographic fabric, transitioning from newcomers to residents who contributed to the economic and social life of the city. By the mid-1700s, the name was documented within the administrative systems of the Swiss Confederation, marking the beginning of a long-standing familial legacy in the heart of the Alps.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé de sa. sur or; à un mouton ramp., de l'un en l'autre. C.: un bélier iss.; entre un vol, coupé alt. de sa. et d'or.”
Germanyc. 1566
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Map of Germany showing where the Feher arms are recorded
The Feher arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1566.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
1564–1576
Reigning in Switzerland when the Feher arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Feher Family in Germany
The surname Feher is primarily associated with Hungarian origins, where it functions as a descriptive nickname meaning white or fair-haired. However, the presence of the family in Bavaria by 1566 highlights a fascinating period of movement across Central Europe during the sixteenth century. At this time, the Holy Roman Empire served as a crossroads for merchants, soldiers, and craftsmen who frequently migrated between the German-speaking lands and the Kingdom of Hungary. Families bearing this name likely integrated into the Bavarian social structure by adopting local naming customs while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. Living in a region defined by the Reformation and the rise of powerful regional states, these early settlers would have navigated a society deeply influenced by trade routes and religious shifts. Their documented presence in Bavaria suggests that they were part of a broader trend of cross-border mobility that defined the cultural landscape of the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fehér
Hungarian adjective meaning white or fair-haired.
This name
FeherA descriptive surname originally used to identify someone with light-colored hair or a pale complexion.
also spelled
Feer
Fahr
Fair
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church records of the city of Bern)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern (Citizen registers of the city of Bern)
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (1989)
Heuberger, Rolf, Die Einwanderung in die Stadt Bern im 18. Jahrhundert (1965)
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lambGentleness, patience and faith
