A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wettstein family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0215 · Swiss, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bombOne who has faced a great siege
Colours
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)
“De sa. à la bande d'or, acc. de deux grenades du même, ouv. de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin., la tige courbée vers le bas et remontante à sen. Cq. cour. C.: une grenade de l'écu, reposant sur la tige courbée. L. d'or et de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Wettstein arms are recorded
The Wettstein 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 Wettstein Family in Switzerland
The name Wettstein originates from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland and is classified as a topographic surname. It is composed of the words "wett," which refers to a communal watering hole or a place where livestock were washed, and "stein," meaning stone. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent stone marker or a paved area by a village pond. By the time the family was firmly established in Basel during the mid-18th century, they had become deeply integrated into the civic and social life of the city. Members of the family often held positions of influence, contributing to the administrative and professional development of the region. Their presence in Basel by 1745 reflects a long history of settlement in the Rhine valley, where families frequently adopted names based on the specific landscape features of their home villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wettstein
Derived from the Middle High German words for wager and stone.
This name
WettsteinRefers to a boundary marker or stone used to settle legal disputes.
also spelled
Wetstein
Wettsteyn
Wetstine
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bombOne who has faced a great siege
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bombOne who has faced a great siege
