A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Naf family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0734 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un croiss. montant d'or, soutenu d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. et surm. d'une étoile du sec. C.: un homme barbu iss., hab. d'azur, rebr. d'or, tenant de sa main dextre une étoile d'or et de sa sen. un croiss. montant du même. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Naf arms are recorded
The Naf 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 Naf Family in Switzerland
The family name Naf has deep roots in the Swiss region, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in the city of Bern by 1745. The name is generally considered to be a shortened form of names like Nafzger or other variants common in the Alemannic-speaking areas of Switzerland. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were often integrated into the local urban economy, working as skilled tradespeople or merchants within the structured society of the Swiss cantons. Because the name is relatively short, it likely evolved as a nickname or a simplified version of a longer family name used in rural communities before these individuals moved into larger administrative centers like Bern. Life for these early ancestors was defined by the strict social hierarchies of the time, where family identity was closely tied to one’s trade and local citizenship status within the city walls.
Naf Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Naf
Derived from the Middle High German word for a nephew or relative.
This name
NafA surname historically used to denote a nephew or a kinsman within a family.
also spelled
Naf
Nef
Neff
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel 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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
