A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Avance family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3675 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
swordJustice, and military honour
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à l'épée d'arg. garnie d'or, surm. d'une couronne à neuf perles du même; au 2 coupé: a. de gu. à deux huchets d'or, liés de sa.; b. d'azur à deux fasces d'or. A une fleur-de-lis d'or, en abime, br. sur le parti.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Avance Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Avance arms are recorded
The Avance 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 Avance 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 Avance 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 Avance Family in Netherlands
The family name Avance is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Dutch province of Friesland, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1815. During the early nineteenth century, Friesland was undergoing significant administrative changes following the end of French rule and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name itself reflects a linguistic connection to the French word for forward or advance, which suggests that the family may have originally been associated with military service, trade, or a specific migration pattern during the turbulent Napoleonic era. As the region transitioned into a more modern state, families like the Avances were required to formalize their surnames in official civil registries. This process helped solidify their identity within the Frisian community, marking the beginning of a documented lineage that persisted through the agricultural and social shifts of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
avancer
Old French verb meaning to move forward or advance.
This name
AvanceA locative or occupational surname denoting someone who lived near or worked at a forward position.
also spelled
Avans
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
Netherlands National Archives, Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
swordJustice, and military honour
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
swordJustice, and military honour
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
