Map of Switzerland showing where the Zollicoffer arms are recorded
The Zollicoffer arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1472.
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 Zollicoffer Family in Switzerland
The Zollicoffer family name traces its roots to the city of Bern, Switzerland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1472. The name is believed to be a variation of the German term Zoller, which historically referred to a toll collector or a customs official. This suggests that the family’s ancestors likely held positions of administrative importance or worked in trade regulation within the Swiss cantons. Over time, the family became deeply integrated into the civic and political life of Bern. They were known for their involvement in local governance and their contributions to the development of the region during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. As the family grew, some members eventually migrated to other parts of Europe and later to the American colonies, carrying their Swiss heritage with them.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zollikofer
A tax collector or customs official at a toll station.
This name
ZollicofferDerived from the Swiss-German term for an official responsible for collecting tolls or customs duties.
also spelled
Zollikofere
Zollikoferr
Zollikof
Zolikofer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Zolikofer, 2015
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
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cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
