A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fister family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0128 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 deux épis d'or, réunis en bas, posés en chev. renv. et acc. de trois étoiles (5) du sec., 1 en chef entre les épis et 2 en p., accostant la tige. C.: une étoile (5) d'or, entre un vol à l'antique, l'aile de derrière d'azur et l'aile de devant d'or [V. de Wetstein-Pfister.]”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Fister arms are recorded
The Fister arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Fister Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Fister arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Fister Family in Netherlands
The family name Fister has deep roots in the northern region of the Netherlands known as Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this area. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational term or a topographical identifier, as was common practice in Dutch naming conventions before the formalization of surnames. During the Napoleonic era and the subsequent formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, many families in Friesland were required to officially register their surnames with local authorities. This process helped solidify the Fister name within the regional census and tax records of 1815. These early ancestors were likely part of the agrarian or maritime communities that defined Frisian life, contributing to the local economy and social structure of the northern provinces during a time of significant political change.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un annelet d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles du même. C.: un buste de More, hab. aux armes de l'écu.”
GermanyAugsbourg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Fister arms are recorded
The Fister arms were recorded in Augsbourg, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Netherlands when the Fister 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 Fister Family in Germany
The family name Fister originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as an occupational surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word *vister*, which was a common term for a fishmonger or a person who made their living by catching and selling fish. Because the name describes a specific trade, it likely emerged in areas near rivers or lakes where fishing was a vital part of the local economy. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Fister family were established in the city of Augsburg. During this period, Augsburg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, and families often settled there to participate in the city's thriving guild systems. The presence of the family in this historic city by 1765 suggests they were part of the hardworking merchant or artisan classes that helped define the social structure of southern Germany during the Enlightenment.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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: au 1 d'azur à un lacs d'amour d'or, en forme de coeur; au 2 d'arg. à la moitié inférieure d'une roue de moulin d'azur. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, au rabat d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet du même, tenant de sa main dextre le lacs d'amour, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Fister arms are recorded
The Fister 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 Fister Family in Switzerland
The family name Fister has deep roots in the Swiss region of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1745. In the context of Swiss history, the name likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word *vister*, which referred to a person who worked as a fishmonger or a fisherman. During the eighteenth century, families in the Bernese territories were often tied to specific local trades or agricultural roles that defined their social standing. As the Fister family settled into the urban and rural landscapes of the canton, they became part of the long-standing tradition of Swiss citizenship, where families were officially registered within their home municipalities. This registration provided them with legal rights and community obligations that helped shape their identity within the Swiss Confederation during a time of significant social and economic change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Visser
A person who catches fish for a living.
This name
FisterAn occupational surname derived from the Dutch word for a fisherman.
also spelled
Phister
Pfisterer
Pister
Fister
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
