A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Specker family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2563 · Swiss, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un sanglier de sa., passant sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. et acc. de trois étoiles d'or, rangées en chef. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, rebr. d'or, au rabat du même, coiffé d'un bonnet d'azur, retr. d'or, tenant de sa main dextre une hache d'arg., emm. au nat., la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L. d'or et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Specker arms are recorded
The Specker arms were recorded in Bâle, 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 Specker Family in Switzerland
The surname Specker is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the family’s presence in the city of Basel by 1745. The name is classified as a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "specht," which refers to a woodpecker. In many cases, such names were given to individuals who lived near a distinct landmark, such as a forest known for these birds, or they were used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a sharp or persistent nature. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Specker family had established themselves within the urban environment of Basel, a city known for its thriving trade and guild systems. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local craft and merchant classes, contributing to the economic and social fabric of the Swiss region as it transitioned into the modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Speculum
Latin term meaning a mirror or a reflective surface.
This name
SpeckerRefers to a maker or seller of mirrors, or someone who worked with reflective glass.
also spelled
Speker
Speckar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, 1957
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
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
