A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alberda family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1846 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à une étoile d'or, acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis du même. Cq. cour. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'or. S.: deux lions reg. d'or, lamp. de gu.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1814
Where the Alberda Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Alberda arms are recorded
The Alberda arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1814.
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
1814
Granting Authority for the Alberda 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.
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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Alberda Family in Netherlands
The Alberda family name is deeply rooted in the history of the northern Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, the family was well-established in this region, which was a time of significant transition as the Netherlands moved from French occupation to the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1814. The name itself follows a traditional naming pattern common in the Frisian and Groningen areas, where surnames often evolved from patronymics or references to ancestral homes. During this period, families like the Alberdas were often part of the local landowning or professional classes who helped shape the social and political life of their communities. As civil registration became mandatory across the Netherlands during the early 1800s, the Alberda name was formally recorded in official government documents, solidifying its place in the genealogical history of the province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalbert
Noble and bright or famous
This name
AlberdaA patronymic form derived from the Germanic name meaning noble and bright.
also spelled
Alberdah
Alberde
Alberd
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
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2024
Dijkstra, B., Friese familienamen, 1998
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
