A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rossier family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1313 · Swiss, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois roses d'arg.”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
Where the Rossier Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Rossier arms are recorded
The Rossier arms were recorded in Fribourg, 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 Rossier Family in Switzerland
The family name Rossier has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Fribourg, where the family was firmly established by the middle of the eighteenth century. Historically, the name is linked to the French word rousse, which refers to a reddish or auburn hair color. It is likely that the name began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who stood out due to their physical appearance. By 1745, records show that members of the Rossier family were active participants in the local community life of Fribourg. During this period, the family was integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region, often working in trades or agriculture that supported the growing Swiss towns. Over time, the name spread from these early settlements into surrounding areas, maintaining its connection to the unique cultural heritage of the Fribourg region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rous
A descriptive term referring to the color red or reddish hair.
This name
RossierA topographic or occupational surname denoting someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Rossyer
Rosier
Related arms
Lespinesimilar arms
Singlersimilar arms
Spinasimilar arms
Rosiervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives of Fribourg, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Fribourg
Moser, Beat, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Stalder, Franz Joseph, Versuch eines schweizerischen Idiotikon, 1812
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
