A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berthold family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1227 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un écusson d'azur en abîme, acc. de trois los. de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Berthold Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Berthold arms are recorded
The Berthold 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 Berthold 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 Berthold 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 Berthold Family in Netherlands
The name Berthold originates from the ancient Germanic language, combining the elements "berht," meaning bright or famous, and "wald," meaning ruler or power. This name was popular among Germanic tribes and nobility during the Middle Ages, often signifying a person of strength or high social standing. By the early 19th century, branches of the family were well-established in the northern region of Friesland. In 1815, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes following the Napoleonic era, which led to the formal registration of surnames across the region. Records from this time show that the Berthold family had integrated into the local culture of Friesland, participating in the agricultural and maritime life that defined the area. The family name persisted through these transitions as a marker of their long-standing presence in the Dutch provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht-wald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright or famous and ruler.
This name
BertholdA name signifying a bright or illustrious ruler.
also spelled
Bertholt
Bertold
Related arms
Berthoultvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Förstemann, Ernst. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. 1856
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.
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
