A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bigge family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6254 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. au chev. de sa., acc. de trois trèfles du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Bigge Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bigge arms are recorded
The Bigge 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 Bigge 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 Bigge 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 Bigge Family in Netherlands
The surname Bigge is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific ancestral location. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the Bigge family were established in the province of Friesland. During this period, the region was undergoing significant political changes following the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Bigges were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the maritime culture that defined the Frisian coastline. As the family moved through the 1800s, they participated in the social and economic shifts of the Dutch provinces, maintaining their presence in the region while adapting to the evolving bureaucracy and census systems of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bigge
Derived from the Middle Dutch word bigge meaning a young pig.
This name
BiggeA topographic or occupational name for someone who raised or traded pigs.
also spelled
Bygge
Bige
Big
Related arms
Bigg de Lenchwickvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Maritime Museum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Dijkstra, B., Friese familienamen en hun herkomst, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
