A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beekman family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9173 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., acc. de trois merlettes du même. C.: une merlette de gu., entre un vol d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Beekman Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Beekman arms are recorded
The Beekman 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 Beekman 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 Beekman 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 Beekman Family in Netherlands
The surname Beekman is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally chosen to describe the landscape where a family lived. In the Dutch language, the name combines the word "beek," meaning a small stream or brook, with "man," indicating a person who lived near or managed that specific water source. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Beekman family were well-established in the northern province of Friesland. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes, including the formal registration of surnames under the Napoleonic civil code. This process required families to officially record their names in local registers, helping to solidify the spelling and history of the Beekman name as it moved from a simple description of a person’s home into a permanent family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beek
A small stream or brook flowing through the landscape.
This name
BeekmanA person who lived near or by a small stream or brook.
also spelled
Beckman
Bekman
Related arms
Beeckmanvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De Nederlandse familienamen: ontstaan en betekenis, 1947
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
