A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Omen family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4017 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 de gu. à trois fasces crén. d'arg. C.: une aigle iss. de sa.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Omen Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Omen arms are recorded
The Omen 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 Omen Family in Switzerland
The Omen family name has deep roots in the historical records of Bern, Switzerland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Omens were often part of the established citizenry that contributed to the local economy and civic life. The name itself likely evolved from regional Germanic dialects, potentially serving as a descriptive term for an individual’s character or their specific role within the community. As residents of a prominent urban center, early family members would have navigated the complex political landscape of the Swiss Confederacy, likely engaging in trade, craftsmanship, or local administration. By maintaining a presence in the city during the mid-eighteenth century, the Omen family became part of the enduring cultural fabric of the Bernese region, leaving behind a legacy that links them to the growth and stability of the Swiss cantons.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Omen
Derived from the Latin word omen meaning a sign or portent.
This name
OmenA surname likely originating as a nickname for a person considered prophetic or ominous.
also spelled
Oman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (Church records of the city of Bern)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern (Citizenship registers of the city of Bern)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts (City and Country in 18th-century Switzerland), 1982
Historischer Verein des Kantons Bern, Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde (Bernese Journal for History and Local Studies), 1945
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
