A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gries family of Switzerland.
Reg. 3724 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
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 un cygne d'arg., les pieds tronqués, le pied sen. attaché à une corde de sa., mouv. du canton dextre de la p. C.: une tête et col de cygne d'arg., le dos longé d'une crête de six angles de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Gries Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Gries arms are recorded
The Gries 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 Gries Family in Switzerland
The surname Gries originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe and is classified as a topographic name. It was historically used to describe someone who lived near a sandy or gravelly area, as the word "Gries" refers to coarse sand or grit in Middle High German. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bern, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Gries family were integrated into the local community during this period, likely participating in the trade and civic life of the Swiss capital. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, carrying a name that reflected their ancestral connection to the physical landscape of their homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gries
Middle High German term for sand, gravel, or a stony shore.
This name
GriesA topographic name for someone who lived near a sandy or gravelly area.
also spelled
Griesse
Gries
Grees
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
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Zoder, Rudolf, Familiennamen in Ostfalen, 1968
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
