A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bergsma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1043 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 porcs de sa. en chef et un sanglier pass. du même en p. C.: un sanglier iss. de sa.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Bergsma Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bergsma arms are recorded
The Bergsma arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Bergsma 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 Bergsma 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Bergsma Family in Netherlands
The surname Bergsma originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, a region known for its unique language and long-standing traditions. Like many Frisian names, it follows a specific naming pattern where the suffix "-ma" indicates that a person belongs to a specific family or household. The prefix "Berg" likely refers to a geographical feature, such as a hill or a raised mound, which was a common way to identify homes in the flat Frisian landscape. By the time the Dutch government required the formal registration of surnames in 1811 and 1812, the Bergsma family was already well-established in the area. These early ancestors were often involved in local agriculture or trade, living within the tight-knit communities that defined rural Frisian life during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg
A mountain, hill, or elevated piece of land.
This name
BergsmaA topographical surname indicating someone who lived on or near a hill or mountain.
also spelled
Bergsmah
Bergsmas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand Friesland 1811-1950
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
