TL;DR: Discovering your family’s coat of arms is more than a fun curiosity, especially in Vaud, Switzerland. The Cantonal Archives hold heraldic treasures that can reconnect you with centuries of identity, history, and belonging.
When Ancient Symbols Became Personal: My Family’s Heraldry Journey
A few years ago, if someone had told me I’d have my family’s coat of arms tattooed on my body, I probably would have laughed. Yet here I am today, proudly wearing these ancient symbols that represent centuries of family history.
It’s amazing how a simple visit to the Vaud Cantonal Archives turned into a life changing journey of discovery.
The Day Everything Changed
It started with simple curiosity. Walking into the Vaud Cantonal Archives, I had no idea I was about to uncover treasures that would profoundly impact my sense of identity.
There, amid centuries old documents and registers, I found them, the coats of arms of both sides of my family.
The moment I saw these heraldic symbols, something clicked. These weren’t just decorative shields. They were the visual signatures of my ancestors, carrying stories across generations.
Two Families, Two Stories
What makes my discovery particularly special is that I found both family crests, each one rooted in a different era, with its own language of symbols.
The first coat of arms, dating back roughly to the 19th century, is set on a deep blue field. At the top shines a white five pointed star, and below rests a white fleur de lys, the two separated by a striking red wavy division.
In heraldry, blue evokes loyalty and truth, while the star speaks of guidance and aspiration, a sign of hope carried forward. The fleur de lys, timeless and noble, suggests honor, tradition, and a link to the cultural heritage of the region. The red wave between them feels almost like a boundary of time or place, a reminder that identity is shaped by both continuity and change.
The second coat of arms is far older, reaching back to around the 14th century. It stands on a black field, bearing in golden yellow a millstone, then an anille, and finally a bar beneath them.
This shield feels medieval in the deepest sense, grounded, austere, enduring. The millstone is a powerful emblem of labor, sustenance, and the essential work of rural life, the kind of symbol that ties a family to the land and to the community’s survival.
The anille, a rarer charge in heraldry, is traditionally associated with milling and craftsmanship. It is the iron piece at the heart of a millstone’s mechanism, symbolizing technical skill, structure, and the hidden core that makes everything turn.
And the golden bar, one of the oldest heraldic charges, suggests protection, stability, and the steady weight of inheritance.
Together, these two crests tell different stories, one more recent and emblematic, the other ancient and deeply rooted in the soil of Vaud.
From Archive to Skin: Making History Personal
After discovering these symbols, I knew I wanted to carry them with me always.
The decision to get them tattooed wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about making history personal. These weren’t abstract designs anymore. They were mine.
Now, these ancient marks have become a daily reminder of where I come from, who I am, and the legacy I’m part of.
Sharing the Legacy with My Children
One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been sharing it with my children.
Their eyes light up when I explain what each symbol means, why our ancestors chose these specific elements, and how these designs have been passed down through generations.
It has become a tangible way to teach them about heritage, making history feel real rather than distant.
Beyond the Symbols: Diving into Genealogy
Finding our family crests sparked something bigger, an intense desire to know more about the people behind these symbols.
This led me down the fascinating path of genealogical research, where I discovered:
Family lines reaching back to the 14th century
Ancestors whose lives were shaped by the rhythms of rural Vaud
Deep connections to villages, valleys, and landscapes still familiar today
Traditions of work, resilience, and community roles passed down silently
Migration patterns within the canton across generations
The Archives: A Gateway to the Past
The Vaud Cantonal Archives proved invaluable in this journey.
Beyond heraldic records, I found:
Birth, marriage, and death registers going back centuries
Property documents revealing where my family lived
Occupational traces showing how they earned their lives
Community records reflecting their place in local society
It felt like opening a door into a world that had always been there, waiting.
Understanding Our Origins
Through this research, I gained a deeper understanding of why my family settled where they did, what drove their choices, and how they contributed to their communities.
These discoveries helped explain:
Why certain family traditions exist
How we came to live where we do today
What historical currents shaped our path
Why certain skills and values seem to echo across generations
A Living Legacy
Today, our family crests are more than historical artifacts.
They’re living symbols connecting past, present, and future. I’ve incorporated them into:
Family gatherings and storytelling
Educational moments with my children
Personal artwork and meaningful objects
Conversations with relatives near and far
The Ripple Effect
What began as a simple search for family heraldry created ripples through our entire family.
It has:
Sparked conversations with distant relatives
Revived forgotten stories
Created new traditions
Strengthened our sense of identity
Inspired younger generations to explore their roots
Tips for Your Own Heraldic Journey
For anyone inspired to start:
- Begin at the Vaud Cantonal Archives, they are extraordinary
- Document everything you find
- Speak with older relatives while you still can
- Don’t be afraid to dig deeper into the records
- Find your own way to make the past part of your present
The Ongoing Adventure
This journey hasn’t ended. If anything, it’s only beginning.
Each discovery leads to new questions, new searches, and new connections.
In the end, what began as a curious visit to the archives became something far greater, a bridge between centuries.
These symbols, now etched into my skin, are not just decoration. They are identity. Memory. Continuity.
And perhaps the most beautiful part is this:
Every family has a story.
And sometimes, it’s been waiting for you in an archive all along.