A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fesh family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1646 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 deux étoiles d'arg., sur or à une croix latine pattée de sa., le pied fendu en chev.; au chev. de sa., br. sur la division (quelquefois sans chev.) [A cette fam. appartenait le cardinal Fesch, archevêque de Lyon et oncle maternel de l'empereur Napoléon I. Sous l'Empire ses armes furent changées comme celles de tous les mem-”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Fesh Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Fesh arms are recorded
The Fesh 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 Fesh Family in Switzerland
The family name Fesh is deeply rooted in the history of the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. By the year 1745, records confirm that members of the Fesh family were established residents within this influential trade hub. During the eighteenth century, Bâle served as a vital center for commerce and banking, attracting families who were often involved in the city’s thriving merchant guilds and civic administration. The name likely evolved from regional Germanic dialects where it functioned as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer personal name common in the Upper Rhine region. As the family integrated into the social fabric of Bâle, they became part of the city's long tradition of craftsmanship and professional service, helping to shape the local culture during a period of significant economic growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fisch
A vertebrate animal that lives and breathes in water.
This name
FeshAn occupational surname for a fisherman or a dealer in fish.
also spelled
Fesh
Fesche
Fescher
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel
Burckhardt, August, Die Bürger von Basel, 1940
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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
