A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bergen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5826 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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)
“de sa., acc. de trois étoiles d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'arg., entre un vol d'or et de sa. L.: d'arg., de sa. et d'or [V. Comte Berg, et Berg de Dussen-Muilkerk.])”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Bergen Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bergen arms are recorded
The Bergen 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 Bergen 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 Bergen 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 Bergen Family in Netherlands
The surname Bergen is a locational name that originally described people who lived near a hill or a mountain. In the Germanic languages, the word berg refers to these high places, and the name likely emerged as a way to identify individuals by their surroundings. By the year 1815, family members were well-established in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. During this period, the region was undergoing significant changes following the end of French rule and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Bergens were often deeply connected to the local agricultural life and the unique maritime culture of the Frisian coast. Because Friesland has a long history of keeping detailed civil records, the presence of the family there during the early nineteenth century reflects a time when surnames were becoming permanently fixed in official government documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg
A mountain, hill, or elevated piece of land.
This name
BergenRefers to someone who lived near or on a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Bergenh
Bergene
Related arms
von Berghenvariant 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
De Vries, J. W., Nederlandse Familienamen: Herkomst en Betekenis (Dutch Surnames: Origin and Meaning), 2005
Van der Meer, G., Friese Familienamen (Frisian Surnames), 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
