A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Luff family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6076 · Swiss, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'azur et de gu.; au pal d'arg., br. sur le tout et accosté de deux boules du même. C.: un cygne iss. d'arg., bq. de sa., le vol levé. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Luff arms are recorded
The Luff 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 Luff Family in Switzerland
The family name Luff has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in Bern, Switzerland, by 1745. The name is generally categorized as a topographic or descriptive surname, likely originating from Middle High German or Old English terms related to the wind or a person’s physical nature. In the context of the Bernese records, families with this name were often integrated into the local civic life, working as skilled tradespeople or farmers within the cantonal structure. As the family moved through the eighteenth century, they became part of the established social fabric of the region, contributing to the local economy and community development. This history reflects the broader patterns of migration and settlement in Central Europe, where families often remained in specific districts for generations to maintain their status and trade connections.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Luffa
Latin term referring to a sponge or a fibrous plant structure.
This name
LuffA topographical name for someone living near a sponge-like or marshy area.
also spelled
Laufe
Lof
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2002
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
