A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sonnen family of Switzerland.
Reg. 1327 · Swiss, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une fleur-de-lis au pied coupé de gu., soutenue d'un chevron abaissé du même. C.: deux cornes de bouquetin, de gu. et d'arg., ch. chacune d'une losange de l'un à l'autre.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Sonnen Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Sonnen arms are recorded
The Sonnen 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 Sonnen Family in Switzerland
The family name Sonnen is rooted in the German language, where it translates to the word for suns. In the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Sonnen family were established residents of Bern, Switzerland. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state known for its strict record-keeping and organized social structure. Families living in the region often took names that reflected their trade, their physical traits, or their connection to the natural world. Because the name relates to the sun, it is possible that early ancestors were associated with bright dispositions or perhaps worked in professions that required daylight. By 1745, the family was integrated into the local community, living among the historic stone buildings and bustling markets of the Swiss capital. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were recognized citizens who participated in the daily life and civic duties of the region during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sunne
Old High German word for the celestial body that provides light.
This name
SonnenA topographic name for someone living in a sunny location or a nickname for a cheerful person.
also spelled
Sone
Sonen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2002
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
