Often when people look to their family history in Europe they are hoping to find something to lend importance to the family history, something such as a family crest (German Wappen). One word about the family crest – it is not a family crest, rather it is a crest awarded to an individual for some accomplishment or service. Except in the case of nobility, crests do not flow down from generation to generation. The copy below is from the collection (Sammlung) of one Dr. Marti-Nehren and was provided to me by town historian Herr Albert Sommer of Lenk, Canton Bern, Switzerland. It is interesting to note the date below the crest 1776. I am not certain of the significance of this date to the crest but two observations can be made 1) The American Declaration of Independence happened in 1776 and 2) 1776 was more than forty years following the arrival of Trachsel brothers in Pennsylvania. This whole subject earmarked for further research.
