A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rusk family of Switzerland.
Reg. 7497 · Swiss, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à trois jambes de cheval de sa., posées en fasces, l'une sur l'autre, ferrées de gu., le sabot à dextre. C.: deux jambes de cheval de l'écu, en pals, aff.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Rusk arms are recorded
The Rusk 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 Rusk Family in Switzerland
The surname Rusk is believed to have roots in the Germanic regions of Europe, with specific historical documentation placing the family in the city of Bern, Switzerland, by the year 1745. During this period, the name was often associated with families who lived near specific geographic markers or worked in skilled trades within the bustling urban centers of the Swiss cantons. As these families moved across borders, the spelling of the name occasionally shifted to adapt to local languages and dialects. By the mid-18th century, the Rusk family was well-established in the social and economic life of Bern, contributing to the local community as merchants or craftsmen. This era marked a time of significant transition, as many individuals with this name began to look toward new opportunities in other parts of Europe and eventually across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rusch
Derived from the Middle High German word for a rush plant.
This name
RuskA topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of rushes or reeds.
also spelled
Russ
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
