A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graley family of Switzerland.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. à une tête et col de lion d'or.”
The Graley arms were recorded in Fribourg, 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.
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.
The Graley family name has deep roots tied to the region of Fribourg, Switzerland, where records confirm their presence by the year 1745. During this period, Fribourg was a center of agricultural and craft production, and families like the Graleys were often integrated into the local parish systems that managed daily life and record-keeping. The name likely evolved from regional dialects common in the Swiss plateau, where surnames were frequently adapted to reflect a family's trade, a specific geographic feature of their home, or a nickname used by neighbors. As the family established themselves in this alpine environment, they became part of the social fabric of the canton, contributing to the local economy and the steady growth of the community. Over time, the family name served as a marker of their identity and their long-standing connection to the traditions and history of the Fribourg area.
A medieval term for a cup, vessel, or chalice.
