A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Amundsen family of Denmark.
Reg. 8819 · Danish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 la croix d'or, cant. de quatre étoiles (8) d'arg.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Amundsen Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Amundsen arms are recorded
The Amundsen arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Amundsen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Amundsen Family in Denmark
The surname Amundsen is a classic example of a Scandinavian patronymic, which means it was originally formed by taking the father’s first name and adding a suffix to indicate a son. The name is derived from the Old Norse name Amund, which combines the words for "ancestor" or "grandfather" and "protection." By the early 18th century, this naming tradition was firmly established across Denmark and Norway. Records confirm that members of the Amundsen family were living on the island of Sjælland by 1722. During this period, families in rural Sjælland often lived as tenant farmers or laborers on large estates. Because the name was tied to a specific father rather than a permanent family line, it was common for the surname to change with each new generation until naming customs became more fixed in later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Agmundr
Derived from Old Norse words for edge or point and protection.
This name
AmundsenPatronymic surname meaning son of Agmundr.
also spelled
Amundson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hofmann, Albert, Danske Navne, 1985
Nielsen, Oluf, Bidrag til dansk Navnehistorie, 1882
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjælland (Parish registers for Sjælland), 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
