A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adamz family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7481 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un hêtre de sin., accolé d'un serpent d'or.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Adamz Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Adamz arms are recorded
The Adamz arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Adamz arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Britain.
Origin & History of the Adamz Family in Britain
The name Adamz represents a distinct variation of the more common surname Adams, which originated as a patronymic meaning son of Adam. By the year 1700, records confirm that families bearing this specific spelling were established in the county of Kent. During this period, Kent served as a vital agricultural and maritime hub, placing these early family members at the heart of England’s trade routes and rural economy. The use of the terminal letter z instead of the traditional s often suggests a regional dialect influence or a deliberate choice by early clerks to distinguish specific family branches within local parish registers. These families were likely integrated into the local community as tradespeople or farmers, contributing to the steady growth of the region during the transition into the eighteenth century. As they settled in Kent, the Adamz name became a small but permanent part of the local history, reflecting the broader patterns of naming conventions and social migration across southern England.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un arbre terrassé de sin.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Adamz Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Adamz arms are recorded
The Adamz 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 Adamz 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 Britain when the Adamz 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 Adamz Family in Netherlands
The family name Adamz finds its roots in the northern province of Friesland, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1815. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant changes in how surnames were recorded due to the implementation of the Napoleonic civil registry. Before this time, many families in rural Friesland used patronymic naming systems, where a child’s last name was simply their father’s first name followed by a suffix. The transition to a fixed surname like Adamz suggests that the family likely adopted a permanent name to comply with these new legal requirements. This shift helped the family establish a consistent identity in official government documents as the region moved toward a more modern administrative system. By settling into this specific surname, the early members of the family ensured that their lineage could be tracked through the birth, marriage, and death registers that became mandatory across the Dutch provinces in the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Derived from the Hebrew word for earth or red clay.
This name
AdamzA patronymic surname meaning son of Adam, signifying descent from the first man.
also spelled
Adamz
Adamson
Adames
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Kent Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
The National Archives, Census and Tax Records of the United Kingdom, 1700
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
