A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gotch family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4356 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la bande de gu., ch. de trois feuilles de tilleul d'arg., posées dans le sens de la bande, les tiges en haut. C.: une tête et col de chien braque d'arg.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Gotch Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Gotch arms are recorded
The Gotch 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 Gotch Family in Switzerland
The family name Gotch carries a rich history that traces back to the heart of Europe. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of Bern, Switzerland. During this era, Bern was a powerful center of trade and politics, and families living there were often deeply integrated into the local guild systems or agricultural life of the surrounding cantons. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects, possibly serving as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific ancestral trade. As these early members navigated life in the Swiss Confederation, they were part of a society that valued community records and precise documentation. This period of residency in Bern suggests that the family was well-positioned within the social structure of the time, contributing to the local economy and the cultural development of the region before later generations began to migrate further across the continent.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gott
The Germanic word for God or a divine being.
This name
GotchA diminutive or patronymic form referring to a child or follower of God.
also spelled
Gotsche
Gotch
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church records of the city of Bern)
Feller, Richard, Geschichte Berns: Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart, 1946
Von Mülinen, Wolfgang Friedrich, Berns Geschichte, 1891
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
