A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Scherrer family of Switzerland.
Reg. 9369 · Swiss, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. à un agneau d'arg., pass. sur une terrasse de sin. C.: un homme iss., hab. de gu., tenant de sa main dextre une force, les bouts en haut, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Scherrer arms are recorded
The Scherrer 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 Scherrer Family in Switzerland
The surname Scherrer is an occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically within the areas that now make up Switzerland and southern Germany. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "scherer," which refers to a shearer or a cloth cutter. During the Middle Ages, this profession was essential to the textile industry, as these individuals were responsible for trimming the nap of finished wool cloth to give it a smooth texture. By the time members of the family were documented in Bern in 1745, the name had become well-established among the local citizenry. Families with this name often lived in urban centers where trade guilds played a major role in daily life. Over several generations, the name transitioned from a simple job description into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through the paternal line.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Scherer
An occupational term derived from the Middle High German word for shearer.
This name
ScherrerRefers to a person who worked as a cloth shearer or a barber.
also spelled
Scherrar
Sherer
Sherrer
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
State Archives of the Canton of Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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
lambGentleness, patience and faith
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lambGentleness, patience and faith
