A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Admiraal family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5733 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à l'ancre d'or, posée en barre; au 2 de gu. au lion d'or. C.: un cygne d'arg., bq. de gu., coll. d'une couronne d'or, le vol levé.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Admiraal Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Admiraal arms are recorded
The Admiraal 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 Admiraal 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 Admiraal 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 Admiraal Family in Netherlands
The surname Admiraal is a classic example of a name derived from a professional title or a descriptive nickname. In the Dutch language, the word refers to an admiral, suggesting that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name may have served in the navy or held a position of leadership and authority. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in the province of Friesland. During this period, the Napoleonic administration required citizens to register permanent surnames for civil records, which helped solidify the name across the region. Because Friesland has a long history of maritime trade and coastal defense, it is likely that the name was linked to the seafaring traditions of the northern Netherlands. Over time, the name transitioned from a functional title used to identify a specific person into a hereditary family name passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amir al-bahr
Arabic phrase meaning commander of the sea.
This name
AdmiraalA Dutch occupational surname for a naval commander or high-ranking maritime officer.
also spelled
Admirael
Admiral
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen en familienamen in Nederland, 1964
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811-1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
lionCourage, strength and royalty
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
lionCourage, strength and royalty
