A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gurnell family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6737 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'or à la fasce de sa., ch. de trois los. accolées d'arg.”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
Where the Gurnell Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Gurnell arms are recorded
The Gurnell 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.
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 Gurnell Family in Switzerland
The surname Gurnell is deeply rooted in the history of the Fribourg region, where family members were officially documented as early as 1745. During this period, Fribourg served as a significant cultural and political crossroads in Switzerland, and the presence of the Gurnell name suggests the family was integrated into the local social fabric of the eighteenth century. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common to the area, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the Swiss cantons. As the family established themselves in this historic city, they participated in the daily life and administrative activities of the region. Their documented presence in mid-eighteenth-century records provides a clear starting point for tracing the family's migration patterns and their long-standing connection to the Swiss landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gorn
Old High German term referring to a grain or corn mill.
This name
GurnellA topographical surname for someone who lived near or worked at a grain mill.
also spelled
Gurnell
Gurnelle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État de Fribourg, Registres paroissiaux et documents d'état civil, 1745
Müller, A., Die Familiennamen des Kantons Freiburg, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
