A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hary family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5442 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'or au pal d'azur, et deux émanches de deux pièces et deux demies de gu., mouv. des flancs et touchant le pal; ledit pal ch. de trois étoiles (3) d'arg., la deuxième posée au centre d'une bague d'or, châtonnée d'un rubis, ledit rubis en bas.”
SwitzerlandHoll, c. 1745
Where the Hary Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Hary arms are recorded
The Hary arms were recorded in Holl, 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 Hary Family in Switzerland
The family name Hary has deep roots in the Swiss city of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1745. During the eighteenth century, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Harys were often integrated into the local craft guilds or agricultural networks that supported the city’s economy. The name itself likely evolved from older Germanic naming traditions, potentially serving as a variation of names like Henry or Harry, which were common throughout the German-speaking regions of Europe. As residents of Bern, early Hary family members would have lived through a period of significant political stability and economic growth, contributing to the local community as citizens of a prominent Swiss canton. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were part of the documented middle class, participating in the civic life and daily commerce that defined life in the Swiss Confederation during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hari
Old High German word for army or warrior.
This name
HaryA patronymic surname derived from a Germanic personal name meaning army ruler or warrior.
also spelled
Hary
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Burgerrodel (Citizenship Registers)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Taufrodel (Baptismal Registers)
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.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
