A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benninga family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1259 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à la fasce de sin. acc. en chef d'une étoile de gu. et en p. d'une rose du même; au 2 d'azur à la demi-fleur-de-lis d'or, mouv. du parti. C.: une tête et col d'aigle de sa.”
GroningenGroningen, c. 1815
Where the Benninga Arms Were Recorded
Groningen
Map of Netherlands showing where the Benninga arms are recorded
The Benninga arms were recorded in Groningen, c. 1815.
Groningen was northern Dutch country of reclaimed land and free farmers. Families who held their own ground counted as gentry there, and gentry carried 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
Groningen
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Benninga 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 Benninga 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 Groningen.
Origin & History of the Benninga Family in Netherlands
The surname Benninga is deeply rooted in the history of the Groningen province in the northern Netherlands. The suffix -inga is a classic Frisian construction that identifies a person as belonging to a specific family group or lineage. In the early nineteenth century, when the Dutch government mandated the formal registration of surnames, the Benninga family was already well-established within the local community. By 1815, records indicate that family members were active participants in the social and economic life of the region. The name likely originated from an ancestor named Benne, with the suffix serving to denote his descendants. This naming tradition reflects the strong cultural ties between the people of Groningen and the historical Frisian territories that once stretched across the northern coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benno
A Germanic name element derived from the word for bear.
This name
BenningaA patronymic surname meaning son of the person named Benno.
also spelled
Beninga
Benningah
Benningae
Related arms
Beningavariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Groninger Archieven, Burgerlijke Stand in Groningen
Groninger Archieven, DTB-registers (Doop-, Trouw- en Begraafboeken)
Feitsma, A., Frysk en de Fryske taal yn de provinsje Grinslân, 1990
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1943
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
