Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'arg.; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lorena family of Switzerland.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au lion d'arg.; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout.”

The Lorena arms were recorded in Genève, 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.
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 family name Lorena carries a deep connection to the cultural crossroads of Europe, with documented roots tracing back to the city of Genève by the year 1745. During the eighteenth century, Genève served as a vibrant hub for trade and intellectual exchange, attracting families who were often involved in the city’s famous watchmaking industry or its growing banking sector. The name itself is closely linked to the historic region of Lorraine, which sits between modern France and Germany. Families often adopted names based on their ancestral home or the region they migrated from to help identify their origins in a new city. By establishing themselves in Genève during this period, the early members of the Lorena family became part of a diverse urban community that valued craftsmanship and civic participation. Their presence in the city records from 1745 suggests they were settled residents who contributed to the social and economic life of this influential Swiss center.
Derived from the Latin word for the laurel tree or crown.
