Map of Switzerland showing where the Hadlock arms are recorded
The Hadlock 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 Hadlock Family in Switzerland
The Hadlock family name carries a history rooted in the linguistic traditions of Central Europe. While the name is often associated with later migration to North America, official records confirm that family members were firmly established in the city of Bern, Switzerland, by 1745. During this period, the name likely functioned as a topographic or habitational identifier, which was a common practice for families living near specific landmarks or geographic features in the Swiss cantons. As these individuals moved through the German-speaking regions of Europe, the spelling of the name often adapted to local dialects and phonetic shifts. By the mid-18th century, the Hadlock family in Bern was part of a structured urban society, where their presence in local registers suggests they were integrated into the civic and economic life of the city before many of their descendants eventually sought new opportunities abroad.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hadulac
Derived from Old High German words for battle and play or sport.
This name
HadlockRefers to a person who lived near a battle clearing or a place of combat.
also spelled
Hadlickone
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Taufrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.