A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flecher family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0559 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 au saut. d'or, cant. de quatre aigles d'arg. C.: une aigle d'arg.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Flecher Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Flecher arms are recorded
The Flecher 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 Flecher Family in Switzerland
The family name Flecher originates from the medieval occupation of a fletcher, which was a skilled craftsman responsible for making arrows. During the Middle Ages, these artisans were essential to the military and hunting practices of European societies, often living in bustling urban centers where their services were in high demand. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Flecher family were well-established residents of Bern, Switzerland. Living in Bern during 1745, these individuals likely integrated into the city’s structured guild system, which organized tradespeople and protected their professional interests. This transition from a mobile trade to a settled presence in a major Swiss city highlights how the family name evolved from a simple job description into a lasting surname passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
flechier
Old French term for a maker of arrows.
This name
FlecherAn occupational surname for a person who manufactured or sold arrows.
also spelled
Flecher
Fleschere
Fleschier
Flesher
Fletcher
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern
Burgerbibliothek Bern, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, 1957
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
