A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beis family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0015 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au fer-de-moulin de sa.; au 2 de gu. à deux fers de moulin accostés d'or (Arm. v. G.)”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Beis Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Beis arms are recorded
The Beis 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 Beis 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 Beis 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 Beis Family in Netherlands
The family name Beis has deep roots in the northern province of Friesland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1815. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant changes, including the formal registration of surnames under the Napoleonic civil code. Families in Friesland often lived in close-knit agricultural communities where names were frequently tied to local geography or specific family traits. Because the region was historically distinct from the rest of the country with its own language and customs, the name likely evolved from local Frisian dialects or descriptive nicknames used to identify individuals in small village settings. As the family grew, they became part of the hardworking fabric of Frisian society, contributing to the local economy and the unique cultural identity of the northern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beis
Derived from the Middle Dutch word for a small house or dwelling.
This name
BeisA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a small house.
also spelled
Beys
Bice
Bys
Related arms
Beysvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
