A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grether family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5057 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
foxWit and wisdom in defence
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 la bande d'arg., ch. d'un renard pass. du champ, cour. d'or. C.: le renard, assis.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Grether Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Grether arms are recorded
The Grether arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Grether Family in Switzerland
The Grether family name is deeply rooted in the history of the Basel region, where members of the family were firmly established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name is believed to originate from the Middle High German word "grēte," which refers to a gravelly or sandy piece of land near a river. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who lived and worked along the banks of the Rhine. By 1745, records indicate that the Grether family had become integrated into the social and economic fabric of Basel. During this period, families in the area often identified themselves by their specific trade or the geography of their homesteads, which helped distinguish them within the growing city. As the family expanded throughout the eighteenth century, they contributed to the local community through various crafts and civic duties, cementing their place in the regional history of Switzerland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for spear and brave or hardy.
This name
GretherA Swiss-German occupational or habitational name referring to a spear-wielding warrior or descendant of Gerhard.
also spelled
Gretherr
Grethier
Greth
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Suter, Rudolf. Baseldeutsch-Wörterbuch. 1984
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
foxWit and wisdom in defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
foxWit and wisdom in defence
