Map of Switzerland showing where the Rhino arms are recorded
The Rhino 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 Rhino Family in Switzerland
The family name Rhino finds its documented roots in the city of Bern, Switzerland, where members of the family were established by the year 1745. During the mid-eighteenth century, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families living within its walls were often deeply integrated into the local economy and civic life. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common in the German-speaking cantons, where surnames were frequently derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or specific geographic landmarks. As residents of a prominent urban center, early members of the Rhino family would have participated in the daily trade and administrative activities that defined life in the Old Swiss Confederacy. While the name remains relatively rare, its presence in the historical records of Bern suggests that the family was part of the established citizenry during a period of significant political stability and regional growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rhinoceros
Greek for nose-horned beast
This name
RhinoA topographic or habitational name likely derived from a location associated with the animal.
also spelled
Rinowe
Rinowh
Rino
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
Historischer Verein des Kantons Bern, Neues Berner Taschenbuch, 1900
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
