Map of Switzerland showing where the Schlaffer arms are recorded
The Schlaffer 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 Schlaffer Family in Switzerland
The surname Schlaffer is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely originating as a descriptive nickname. In Middle High German, the root word relates to the act of sleeping or being a sleeper, which may have originally identified a person with a calm temperament or perhaps someone who worked as a night watchman. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bern, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Schlaffer family were integrated into the local community during this period of Swiss history. As the family grew, they participated in the social and economic life of the region, contributing to the local trades and civic structures that defined life in the Swiss cantons during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
schlafen
A Middle High German verb meaning to sleep or rest.
This name
SchlafferA descriptive occupational or nickname for a sleepy, sluggish, or idle person.
also spelled
Schlaepfer
Sclepfer
Shlepfer
Schlepfer
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
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern, 1745
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
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
