Map of Switzerland showing where the Küpfer arms are recorded
The Küpfer arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Küpfer Family in Switzerland
The surname Küpfer originates from the German word for a coppersmith, which indicates that the family’s earliest ancestors likely worked as skilled metalworkers. During the medieval period, many families adopted surnames based on their trade to distinguish themselves within growing urban centers. By the year 1745, records confirm that the Küpfer family was well-established in the city of Berne, Switzerland. At this time, members of the family were integrated into the local economy and social structure of the region. As coppersmiths, they would have been essential to daily life, as they produced everything from cooking pots and storage vessels to architectural fixtures. Their presence in Berne suggests they were part of the industrious artisan class that helped shape the city’s development during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kupfer
German word for the chemical element copper.
This name
KüpferAn occupational surname for a coppersmith or a worker who processed copper.
also spelled
Kuepfer
Kepfer
Kyupfer
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
Heer, Gottlieb Heinrich, Die Berner Geschlechter, 1950
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Zunftregister der Stadt Bern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
