A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baars family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0934 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De sin. à trois perches nageantes au nat., 2 et 1. En coeur un écusson d'arg., ch. un monde d'azur. C.: une perche iss., au nat., posée en pal, entre un vol d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Baars Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Baars arms are recorded
The Baars 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 Baars 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 Baars 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 Baars Family in Netherlands
The family name Baars has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle Dutch word for a perch, which is a type of freshwater fish. In medieval times, it was common for people to receive surnames based on their physical traits, their trade, or their connection to the local environment. Because fishing and water management were vital parts of life in the coastal provinces, a name linked to a common fish suggests that early ancestors may have been connected to the maritime or river-based economy of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and civic life that defined Frisian communities during the 1800s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bars
A Germanic term referring to a perch or a spiny fish.
This name
BaarsA topographic or occupational name for someone who fished for or resembled a perch.
also spelled
Bars
Related arms
Barsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen (Dictionary of First Names and Surnames), 1964
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
