A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berch family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5334 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'or à deux fasces échiq. de sa. et d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles de sa., rangées en chef. Cq. cour. C.: deux cornes de buffle d'or, ch. chacune des deux fasces échiq. (Arm. v. G.)”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Berch Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Berch arms are recorded
The Berch 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 Berch 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 Berch 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 Berch Family in Netherlands
The family name Berch has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this area. The name itself is closely linked to the geography of the Low Countries, as the term often referred to a person who lived near a hill or a raised piece of land. In the flat landscape of Friesland, even a small elevation was a significant landmark, which likely led neighbors to identify early family members by their proximity to such a feature. As the family grew and moved through the Frisian countryside, they became part of the local agricultural and social fabric that defined the region during the post-Napoleonic era. These early ancestors helped shape the community identity of their villages, leaving behind a legacy that is still connected to the unique history and language of the Frisian people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
berc
A Germanic term referring to a birch tree or a mountain.
This name
BerchA topographic name for someone who lived near a birch tree or a hill.
also spelled
Berck
Berk
Related arms
Berckvariant spelling
Birchvariant 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
Hofstra, T., Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van de Friese familienamen en hun herkomst, 1998
Van der Meer, G., Naamkunde van de Friese Wouden, 2005
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
