Map of Netherlands showing where the Bergum arms are recorded
The Bergum 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 Bergum 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 Bergum 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 Bergum Family in Netherlands
The family name Bergum originates from the Frisian region of the Netherlands, where it functions as a topographic surname. In the Frisian language, the name is derived from the village of Bergum, which is now officially known by its Frisian name, Burgum. Historically, families in this area often adopted the name of their home village to distinguish themselves from others in the same community. By 1815, when the Dutch government began requiring formal registration of surnames for civil records, the name was already well-established among residents of the province. This transition to fixed family names helped local authorities track land ownership and tax obligations more efficiently. Over time, the name became a permanent identifier for families who traced their roots back to this specific Frisian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg
A mountain, hill, or elevated piece of land.
This name
BergumA topographic name for someone who lived near or on a hill or mountain.
also spelled
Bergsmah
Bergsmas
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 (Frisian Surnames: An overview of Frisian surnames and their origins), 1995
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2010
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
