A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bickers family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2327 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu.; à la bord. de sa., ch. de quinze bes. d'arg. C.: deux prob. coupées, celle à dextre d'arg. sur gu. et celle à sen. de gu. sur or, ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois feuilles d'or. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
GroningenBrème · Groningen, c. 1815
Where the Bickers Arms Were Recorded
Groningen
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bickers arms are recorded
The Bickers arms were recorded in Groningen, c. 1815.
Groningen was northern Dutch country of reclaimed land and free farmers. Families who held their own ground counted as gentry there, and gentry carried 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
Groningen
Town
Brème
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Bickers 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 Bickers 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 Groningen.
Origin & History of the Bickers Family in Netherlands
The family name Bickers has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Groningen. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this area, thriving as part of the local community during a time of significant political change following the Napoleonic era. The name itself is thought to be topographic or occupational in origin, likely derived from the Middle Dutch word "bikker," which referred to a person who worked with stone or metal, such as a stonemason or a sharpener of tools. As families began to adopt permanent surnames to satisfy government record-keeping requirements in the early 1800s, the Bickers name became a fixed identifier for those living in the Groningen countryside. These early ancestors were typically involved in trade or manual labor, contributing to the steady growth of the region as it transitioned into the modern Dutch state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bicker
A person who engages in a quarrel or dispute.
This name
BickersA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor known for being argumentative.
also spelled
Byckers
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Groningen Archives, Bevolkingsregister van de provincie Groningen (1811-1820)
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2023
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
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