A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berk family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4407 · 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
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Berk arms are recorded
The Berk 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 Berk 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 Berk 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 Berk Family in Netherlands
The surname Berk is deeply rooted in the history of the Netherlands, particularly within the northern province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, derived from the Middle Dutch word for a birch tree, which suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent grove or forest. During the 1815 registration of surnames in the Netherlands, which was mandated by the government to standardize family records, the Berk name was formally documented as a permanent lineage. This period marked a transition where families solidified their identities within the local community, reflecting the agricultural and rural character of Frisian life at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
berk
A deciduous tree belonging to the genus Betula.
This name
BerkA topographic name for someone who lived near a birch tree or birch forest.
also spelled
Berck
Berk
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)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (National Archives, Civil Registry Records)
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen (1947)
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen (1964)
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
