A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berghorst family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5017 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à un demi-pal soutenu d'une fasce du même; acc. de trois roses, 2 accostant le pal et la 3e en p.; le tout d'arg. C.: une aigle de profil, le vol levé.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Berghorst Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Berghorst arms are recorded
The Berghorst 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 Berghorst 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 Berghorst 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 Berghorst Family in Netherlands
The surname Berghorst is a topographical name that originates from the Low German and Dutch languages. It is composed of two distinct parts: "berg," which refers to a hill or a mountain, and "horst," which describes a wooded area or a thicket. Together, the name likely identified families who lived near a forested hill or a raised piece of land within a marshy region. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Berghorst family were established in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. During this period, the family was part of a society that was transitioning through the Napoleonic era, which required citizens to formalize their surnames for official civil registration. This process helped solidify the name as a permanent family identifier as these individuals continued their lives in the rural landscapes of the Frisian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg and Horst
Mountain or hill and a wooded height or sandy elevation.
This name
BerghorstRefers to someone who lived near a wooded hill or a mountain ridge.
also spelled
Berghorsth
Berghorste
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
