A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Birg family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0956 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 d'azur au croiss. d'arg., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'or et en p. d'une fleur-de-lis du même. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Birg Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Birg arms are recorded
The Birg arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Birg 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 Birg 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Birg Family in Netherlands
The surname Birg finds its historical roots in the northern coastal regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well-established in the Frisian landscape, a region known for its unique language and independent cultural traditions. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the Germanic dialects spoken along the North Sea coast. During the year 1815, which marked a significant period of administrative reorganization in the Netherlands following the Napoleonic Wars, official records confirm that members of the Birg family were active participants in their local communities. These early ancestors were likely involved in the traditional agricultural or maritime industries that defined the Frisian economy at the time. As the family grew, they maintained a presence in these northern territories, contributing to the distinct social fabric of the region throughout the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Birgitta
Derived from the Old Irish word for exalted one or high.
This name
BirgA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a fortress or hill.
also spelled
Byrg
Berg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Hofstra, T., Oostnederlandse en Friese familienamen, 1999
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
