A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Moss family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 2495 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un ours ramp. de sa., acc. au canton sen. du chef d'une étoile de gu. C.: une tête et col d'ours de sa., ornée le long du dos de trois étoiles d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Moss arms are recorded
The Moss 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 Moss Family in Switzerland
The history of the Moss family in Switzerland is deeply tied to the social and geographical landscape of the Canton of Bern. By the mid-18th century, the name was already established within the region, reflecting a lineage likely rooted in the local agricultural or trade traditions of the Swiss plateau. During this era, Bern functioned as a powerful city-state, and families like the Mosses were often integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths. Because the name is associated with the Germanic linguistic roots of the area, it likely originated as a topographic descriptor, identifying early ancestors who lived near a moor or a patch of mossy land. By 1745, members of the family were active participants in the civic life of Bern, contributing to the steady growth of the community during a time of relative stability and economic development in the Swiss Confederation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, quarterly, erm. and erminois, a cross pattée az. betw. six billets, three in chief and three in base gu., for MOSS; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a lion ramp. guard. sa. on a chief of the last two eagles displ. of the first, for EDWARDS”
LancasterRoby Hall · Lancaster, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Moss arms are recorded
The Moss arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Switzerland when the Moss arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Moss Family in England
The surname Moss is a topographic name, which means it was originally used to describe the landscape where a person lived. In Old English and Old Norse, the word "mos" referred to a peat bog, a marsh, or a patch of mossy ground. During the Middle Ages, people often took on surnames based on the physical features of their homes or farms to help distinguish them from neighbors. By the time members of the Moss family were documented in Lancaster in 1620, the name was already well-established across northern England. Families with this name were typically tied to the rural landscape, working the land near the damp, low-lying areas that defined their local geography. Over several generations, the name shifted from a simple description of a person's surroundings into a permanent family identifier passed down through the centuries.
Moss Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
mos
Old High German term for a swamp or peat bog.
This name
MossA topographic surname for someone who lived near a marshy area or peat bog.
also spelled
Mose
Mos
Related arms
Mosevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Parish registers of the city of Bern)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern (Citizen registers of the city of Bern)
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz (1989)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts (1990)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
