A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Neff family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8796 · 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 Neff arms are recorded
The Neff 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 Neff Family in Switzerland
The surname Neff is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a given name. In the region of Bern, Switzerland, the name was well-established by the mid-eighteenth century, reflecting a family history deeply tied to the agricultural and civic life of the Swiss cantons. During this era, families with the name Neff were often integrated into the local parish structures, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths within the community. As residents of Bern in 1745, members of the Neff family would have lived through a period of significant political stability and economic growth within the Old Swiss Confederacy. The name itself carries a legacy of resilience, as families in this mountainous region relied on strong community bonds and local trade to sustain their households across generations.
Neff Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
neve
Old High German term referring to a nephew or relative.
This name
NeffA surname historically used to denote a nephew or a close kinsman within a family lineage.
also spelled
Naf
Nef
Neff
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher (Parish Registers)
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
