A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hertler family of Switzerland.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Parti d'arg. et de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un cheval iss. d'arg., tenant entre ses dents un annelet de gu.”
The Hertler 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.
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.
The surname Hertler finds its historical roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with a documented presence in the city of Bern by the year 1745. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "hart," which relates to the qualities of being strong, firm, or brave. In the context of early Swiss society, such names often functioned as descriptive nicknames for individuals who displayed a resilient character or a steadfast nature. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were integrated into the local administrative and social structures of the Bernese canton. These early ancestors were likely part of the skilled artisan or merchant classes that helped define the civic life of the region during the Enlightenment era. As the family grew, they maintained their ties to the Bernese landscape, contributing to the local economy and the evolving cultural identity of the city.
Old High German word meaning strong, firm, or hardy.
