Map of Netherlands showing where the Bertelsen arms are recorded
The Bertelsen 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 Bertelsen 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 Bertelsen 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 Bertelsen Family in Netherlands
The surname Bertelsen is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Bertel. This naming tradition was common throughout Northern Europe and Scandinavia, where the suffix "sen" or "son" functioned as a direct indicator of lineage. By 1815, families carrying this name were well-established in the region of Friesland. During this period, the area was undergoing significant social and political transitions following the Napoleonic Wars. Families living in Friesland at that time often navigated complex shifts in local administration and record-keeping practices. Because the name was tied to a father’s given name rather than a specific geographic location or trade, it spread across different communities as families moved for work or marriage. This history reflects the practical way that rural populations organized their identities before the widespread use of formal, permanent surnames became mandatory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
Old Germanic word meaning bright or famous.
This name
BertelsenPatronymic surname meaning son of Bertel, a diminutive form of Berthold or Albert.
also spelled
Bertelsz
Bertelz
Bertelss
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Draye, L., Namenkunde: Een inleiding in de studie van de familienamen, 1996
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1957
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van 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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
