A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Whisnant family of Switzerland.
Reg. 8201 · Swiss, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa., chapé-ployé d'arg.: à trois étoiles de l'un à l'autre, 2 et 1. C.: un buste d'homme, posé de profil, hab. aux armes de l'écu, coiffé d'un bonnet à queue de sa., retr. d'arg.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Whisnant arms are recorded
The Whisnant 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 Whisnant Family in Switzerland
The Whisnant family name is an anglicized version of the Swiss-German surname Wissnant, which likely originated in the region surrounding Bern, Switzerland. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in the Bern area by 1745. During the eighteenth century, many families from this region chose to emigrate to the American colonies to seek new opportunities and escape political instability. Upon arriving in places like Pennsylvania and later moving into the Carolinas, the spelling of the name evolved to match the phonetic pronunciation used by English speakers. This transition from Wissnant to Whisnant reflects the common practice of immigrant families adapting their heritage to fit the linguistic patterns of their new home while maintaining their ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wiss
Derived from the Middle High German word for white or pale.
This name
WhisnantA topographic or descriptive surname referring to someone with a pale complexion or white hair.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Faust, Albert Bernhardt. The German Element in the United States. 1909
Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. 1934
State Archives of Bern (Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern), Kirchenbücher (Church Records)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
