A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Oliveri family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1146 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 olivier de sin.: le champ adextré d'azur à deux croiss. d'arg., 1 en chef montant et 1 en p. versé, et senestré de gu. à deux croiss. d'arg., 1 en chef montant et 1 en p. versé; le champ d'or bordé d'arg. à dextre et à sen.: l'olivier soutenu d'un tertre de sin. en p., ledit tertre br. sur l'azur, l'or et le gu.”
SwitzerlandValais, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Oliveri arms are recorded
The Oliveri arms were recorded in Valais, 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 Oliveri Family in Switzerland
The family name Oliveri is rooted in the Mediterranean region, where it evolved from the Latin name Oliverius, meaning olive tree. This name was often associated with peace or prosperity, and it spread across southern Europe through trade and migration. By the middle of the eighteenth century, members of the Oliveri family had established a presence in the Valais region of Switzerland. At that time, Valais was a rugged alpine area where families often relied on agriculture and local commerce to survive. The Oliveri ancestors who settled there likely integrated into the local community by participating in the traditional mountain economy. Their move to this region highlights the mobility of families during the seventeen hundreds as they sought new opportunities in different European territories.
Oliveri Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Olivarius
Derived from the Latin word for olive tree or olive planter.
This name
OliveriAn occupational surname for someone who cultivated olive trees or traded in olive oil.
also spelled
Olivery
Olyveri
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État du Valais, Registres paroissiaux (1745)
Archives de l'État du Valais, Recensements de la population (1745)
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille (1991)
Guex, André, Histoire du Valais (1972)
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