A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stoffer family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6588 · Swiss, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 senestrochère, paré d'or, mouv. du flanc, la main de carn. tenant un gobelet cannelé d'or au-dessus d'un tertre de sin. mouv. de la p.; ledit gobelet adextré d'une étoile d'or. C.: un homme iss., coiffé d'une toque panachée, hab. d'azur, la poitrine ch. de deux festons en forme de croix d'or, l'épée à la hanche, tenant de sa main dextre étendue un gobelet sans cannelures d'or”
SwitzerlandBerne, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Stoffer arms are recorded
The Stoffer arms were recorded in Berne, 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 Stoffer Family in Switzerland
The surname Stoffer is deeply rooted in the history of the Swiss canton of Berne, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1745. The name is considered a topographic or occupational surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word "stouf," which refers to a steep hill or a conical mountain. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent landmark or worked in a trade associated with such terrain. During the eighteenth century, families in the Bernese region were often tied to specific rural parishes, where they lived as farmers or skilled craftsmen. As the family grew, they became a recognized part of the local community structure, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the Swiss highlands. Their presence in Berne during this era reflects a long history of stability and deep connection to the alpine landscape that defined their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Christophorus
Greek for bearing or carrying Christ.
This name
StofferA Swiss-German patronymic derivative indicating a descendant of someone named Christopher.
also spelled
Staufer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinden im Kanton Bern, 1745
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
