Map of Switzerland showing where the Peifer arms are recorded
The Peifer arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Peifer Family in Switzerland
The surname Peifer is a variation of the German occupational name Pfeiffer, which historically identified a person who played the flute or pipe. During the medieval period, professional musicians often performed at village festivals, weddings, and local markets, which helped the name spread across German-speaking regions. By the mid-18th century, members of the Peifer family were well-established in the city of Berne. Records confirm their presence in this Swiss capital by 1745, a time when the city served as a major cultural and political hub. Families like the Peifers often held roles in local trade guilds or civic administration during this era. Their migration and settlement patterns reflect the broader movement of skilled workers who sought stability and opportunity within the growing urban centers of Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pfeiffer
German occupational term for a player of the pipe or flute.
This name
PeiferAn occupational surname for a professional musician or piper in medieval society.
also spelled
Pfeiffer
Pfyfer
Fyfer
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 der Stadt Bern (Baptismal and Marriage Registers)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
