Map of Switzerland showing where the Scheiner arms are recorded
The Scheiner arms were recorded in Valais, 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 Scheiner Family in Switzerland
The surname Scheiner is rooted in the German language and historically functions as an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schiner," which referred to a person who worked as a flayer or a butcher. In the context of early Swiss history, families bearing this name were often integrated into the local agricultural and trade economies of the Alpine regions. By the time the family was documented in the Valais canton in 1745, they were likely established members of the local community who had settled in the mountainous valleys. These early ancestors were typically involved in the daily life of the village, contributing to the social and economic structure of the region through their professional skills. Over generations, the name became a permanent fixture in the local parish records, reflecting the family's long-standing presence in the Swiss landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schin
A Middle High German term referring to a bright or shining appearance.
This name
ScheinerAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a cutter or a shiner.
also spelled
Schyner
Schinner
Sheener
Shiner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der Deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Gottschald, Max. Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen. 1971
Staatsarchiv Wallis (Valais State Archives). Kirchenbücher (Parish Registers). 1745
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
