A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Handman family of Switzerland.
Reg. 7180 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 une main dextre appaumée de carn., posée en pal, les doigts en haut, mouv. d'un tertre de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti de sin. et d'or, au rabat de l'un et l'autre, rebr. de l'un à l'autre, tenant de sa main dextre une couronne de laurier de sin., la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L.: d'or et de sin.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Handman Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Handman arms are recorded
The Handman arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Handman Family in Switzerland
The surname Handman is rooted in the occupational traditions of Central Europe, likely emerging as a descriptive term for a person who worked with their hands or served as a skilled laborer. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that family members were active within this urban center during a period when the city served as a major hub for trade, printing, and banking. As residents of Bâle, the early Handmans were likely integrated into the structured guild system that defined the social and economic life of the region. This environment suggests that the family name was associated with craftsmanship or professional service, reflecting the industrious nature of a city that sat at the crossroads of European commerce.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hand
Old High German term for the physical hand or a manual laborer.
This name
HandmanAn occupational surname for a person who worked with their hands or a craftsman.
also spelled
Handman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Burckhardt, A., Bürgerbuch der Stadt Basel, 1900
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister, 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
