A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fornaro family of Switzerland.
Reg. 3972 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 au lion d'or, tenant entre ses pattes une ruche du même. C.: le lion, iss.”
SwitzerlandRappersweil, c. 1725
Where the Fornaro Arms Were Recorded
Rappersweil
Map of Switzerland showing where the Fornaro arms are recorded
The Fornaro arms were recorded in Rappersweil, c. 1725.
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 Fornaro Family in Switzerland
The surname Fornaro originates from the Italian word for a baker, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely earned their living by operating ovens or producing bread for their local communities. While the name is deeply rooted in Italian linguistic traditions, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Swiss town of Rapperswil by 1725. During the eighteenth century, families often moved across regional borders to find better economic opportunities or to practice their specialized trades in growing market towns. The presence of the Fornaro family in Rapperswil indicates that they were part of a mobile population that integrated into the local Swiss social structure while maintaining their distinct occupational surname. Over time, these early settlers became a recognized part of the town’s history through their involvement in the daily life and commerce of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fornarius
Latin term for a person who works with an oven or furnace.
This name
FornaroAn occupational surname for a baker or someone who operated a kiln.
also spelled
Fornar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Rapperswil-Jona, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Rapperswil, 1725
Schweizerisches Idiotikon, Schweizerisches Idiotikon: Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache, 1881
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
