A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aalst family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3908 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une étoile (8) d'arg. C.: l'étoile.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Aalst Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Aalst arms are recorded
The Aalst arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Aalst Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Aalst arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Aalst Family in Netherlands
The family name Aalst is a locative surname, which means it originally identified people based on the place where they lived. The name is derived from the Dutch town of Aalst, located in the province of Gelderland. During the early nineteenth century, members of the family established themselves in the northern province of Friesland. This migration was part of a larger trend of families moving across the Netherlands to seek new opportunities in agriculture and trade. By 1815, official records confirm that the family had firmly integrated into the Frisian community. These early ancestors were likely farmers or skilled laborers who helped shape the local economy of the region during a time of significant political change in the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alost
A settlement located near a river or stream.
This name
AalstRefers to a person originating from the city of Aalst in Belgium or the Netherlands.
also spelled
Aalst
van Alst
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Van der Aa, A.J., Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden, 1839
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2024
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
