A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meister family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0628 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux pals d'arg.:”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
Where the Meister Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Meister arms are recorded
The Meister arms were recorded in Fribourg, 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 Meister Family in Switzerland
The surname Meister originates from the Middle High German word *meister*, which means master or teacher. During the Middle Ages, this name was typically given as a descriptive title to someone who had achieved a high level of skill in a specific craft or trade. By the time the family was documented in Fribourg in 1745, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the urban life of Swiss towns, where they frequently worked as skilled artisans, guild members, or educated professionals. Because Fribourg was a center of trade and administration, the Meister family likely held a stable social position that allowed them to maintain their records within the local parish and civil registries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Magister
Latin term for a teacher, master, or person in authority.
This name
MeisterAn occupational surname for a master craftsman, teacher, or head of a guild.
also spelled
Meyster
Myster
Mayster
Master
Related arms
Meystervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Gottschald, Max. Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung. 1971
Staatsarchiv Freiburg. Bürgerrechtsverzeichnisse der Stadt Freiburg. 1745
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
