Map of Switzerland showing where the Kaplansky arms are recorded
The Kaplansky 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 Kaplansky Family in Switzerland
The surname Kaplansky is a topographic name that originates from the Slavic word "kapla," which refers to a chapel or a small place of worship. Families carrying this name were often associated with individuals who lived near or served such religious sites. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Kaplansky family were established in the city of Bern, Switzerland, by 1745. During this period, the family likely navigated the complex social and legal structures of the Swiss cantons, which often required detailed registration of foreign or migrant families. As they moved through Central and Eastern Europe, the name evolved to reflect their specific regional identity, eventually becoming a distinct marker for families who maintained a connection to their ancestral history through their surname.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kaplan
A title derived from the Latin word for a chaplain.
This name
KaplanskyA Slavic-influenced patronymic surname indicating descent from a person who was a chaplain.
also spelled
Kaplane
Kaplaner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenrodel (Church Records)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Einwohnerverzeichnisse (Resident Registers)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
