A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baarda family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2957 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'or à une demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 une étoile acc. en chef de deux poissons nageants, l'un sur l'autre, et en p. d'un croiss.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Baarda Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Baarda arms are recorded
The Baarda arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Baarda 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 Baarda 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Baarda Family in Netherlands
The surname Baarda finds its historic roots in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, the family was firmly established in this region, particularly around the area of Wonseradeel. The name itself follows a traditional Frisian naming pattern, often derived from a combination of a personal name and a suffix that denotes a place of origin or a family connection. In the rural landscape of Friesland, families like the Baardas were typically involved in agriculture or local trade, living in small village communities that had maintained distinct cultural and linguistic traditions for centuries. When the Dutch government mandated the formal registration of surnames in 1811, the Baarda family solidified their identity in official records, marking their presence as a settled and recognized lineage within the Frisian population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barda
Old Germanic term related to a beard or a bearded person.
This name
BaardaA locative or descriptive surname likely referring to a person with a prominent beard.
also spelled
Barda
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 (1811–1950)
Ypema, Y., Friese familienamen: Een onderzoek naar de herkomst en verspreiding van achternamen in Friesland, 1985
Wumkes, G.A., Stads- en dorpskroniek van Friesland, 1930
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
