A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haid family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1458 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une tête et col de buffle de sa., languée et bouclée de gu. C.: le meuble de l'écu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Haid Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Haid arms are recorded
The Haid 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 Haid Family in Switzerland
The surname Haid is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it historically functioned as a topographic name. In the Middle Ages, the word "Haid" or "Heide" referred to a stretch of uncultivated land, heath, or open field. Families who adopted this name likely lived near such a landscape, which served as a simple way to identify them within their local community. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Haid family were well-established in the city of Bern, Switzerland. Living in a major urban center like Bern suggests that these early ancestors were likely integrated into the professional or trade guilds that defined Swiss city life during the 1740s. Over time, the name spread as families moved across borders, yet it remains a strong link to the rural landscapes and historical settlements of the Alpine region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haide
A stretch of uncultivated land or heath.
This name
HaidRefers to a person who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Hayd
Hide
Hyde
Related arms
Haydvariant spelling
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
State Archives of the Canton of Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church registers of the city of Bern), 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bullValour and generosity
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
