A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guger family of Switzerland.
martletA younger son, who must win his own landJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un oiseau au nat.”
The Guger arms were recorded in Soleure, 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 family name Guger is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss canton of Solothurn, known in German as Soleure. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in this region, which was a center of political and religious life in Switzerland. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "guge," which referred to a type of hood or a distinctive piece of headwear. In medieval times, such names were often given as nicknames to individuals based on their trade, their appearance, or the clothing they frequently wore. As families began to adopt permanent surnames, these descriptive labels became hereditary markers that connected the members to their local community. By 1745, the Guger family was well-integrated into the social fabric of Solothurn, participating in the local economy and the civic life of the city during a period of significant regional stability.
A Middle High German term referring to a peak or mountain top.
