A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Reiter family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8024 · Swiss, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 homme, hab. d'azur, coiffé d'un chapeau de sa. panaché de gu., tenant une épée haute, monté sur un cheval bai sautant, bridé de sa., houssé de gu., sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un cor-de-chasse de sa., vir. d'or, lié de gu., entre un vol coupé d'or sur azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Reiter arms are recorded
The Reiter arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Reiter Family in Switzerland
The surname Reiter is an occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It comes from the Middle High German word "reiter," which translates to a rider or a mounted soldier. During the Middle Ages, this name was often given to men who served in the cavalry or who worked as professional horsemen. By the time members of the family were documented in Bâle in 1745, the name had become a well-established surname passed down through generations. Families with this name were often integrated into the local economy of the city, which served as a major hub for trade and craftsmanship along the Rhine River. Because Bâle was a center for guilds and civic administration, the Reiter family likely participated in the professional life of the city as skilled tradespeople or merchants during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
reiten
To ride a horse or travel by horseback.
This name
ReiterAn occupational surname for a mounted soldier, knight, or a professional horseman.
also spelled
Reyter
Reitter
Ryter
Related arms
Reittervariant spelling
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
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
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
