A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerster family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6406 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
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 deux bâtons potencés passés en saut., la potence en haut, acc. en chef d'une étoile entre les bâtons, le tout d'arg. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
SwitzerlandBaden Argovie, c. 1745
Where the Gerster Arms Were Recorded
Baden
Map of Switzerland showing where the Gerster arms are recorded
The Gerster arms were recorded in Baden Argovie, 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 Gerster Family in Switzerland
The surname Gerster is deeply rooted in the historical region of Baden, Germany, where members of the family were documented as early as 1745. The name is occupational in origin, derived from the Middle High German word *gerste*, which translates to barley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely farmers, grain merchants, or brewers who played a vital role in the agricultural economy of the Rhine valley. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were often identified by their trade or their connection to the land. As the Gerster family established themselves in Baden, they became part of a long tradition of rural life that defined the social structure of the region. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple descriptor of a person’s work into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerst
A Germanic term referring to barley or a grain crop.
This name
GersterAn occupational name for a grower, dealer, or processor of barley.
also spelled
Gerstere
Gersterr
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Generallandesarchiv Karlsruhe, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Pfarreien in Baden, 18th century records
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
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
