A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grandson family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2814 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Palé d'arg. et d'azur; au chef de gu., ch. de trois molettes d'or.”
Switzerlandc. 1273
Where the Grandson Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Grandson arms are recorded
The Grandson arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1273.
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 Grandson Family in Switzerland
The history of the Grandson family is deeply rooted in the medieval landscape of the Lake Neuchâtel region in modern-day Switzerland. The name itself likely originated as a locative surname, derived from the town of Grandson, which served as a strategic stronghold near the border of the Vaud region. By the year 1273, records confirm that members of this family had established a significant presence in the city of Bern. During this period, the family functioned as part of the influential local nobility, often acting as administrators or military figures who held land and political sway. Their migration from the shores of the lake to the urban center of Bern suggests that they were active participants in the shifting power dynamics of the thirteenth century, moving between rural estates and the growing administrative hubs of the Swiss territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grand
Derived from the Latin grandis meaning large, great, or tall.
This name
GrandsonA descriptive nickname for a person of significant stature or a distinguished individual.
also spelled
Granson
Grandzon
Related arms
Estavayer-Gorgiersimilar arms
Gorgiersimilar arms
Stradlingsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Besson, Maurice, Histoire de Grandson, 1920
Archives de l'État de Vaud, Fonds de la famille de Grandson, Series A
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Urkundenbuch der Stadt Bern, 1874
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
