The family originated in the 16th century with members holding local government offices under the Prince-Abbots of the Abbey of St. Gallen.

The Federer family originates in the 16th century from the village of Berneck, St. Gallen in northeastern Switzerland, near the Austrian border.

The name Federer translates from the Swiss German word for "feather" or "quill", referencing the family's role as scribes in Berneck.

[3][4] The Federer family coat of arms includes a gold cross atop a white feather on a red shield.

[5] In 1525, during the Reformation in Switzerland, the population of Berneck converted from Catholicism to Protestantism, following the teachings of Huldrych Zwingli.