A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bisschop family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1813 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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: au 1 d'arg. à trois vanneaux mal-ordonnés de sa., celui en chef volant; au 2 de gu. à l'éléphant pass. d'arg., soutenu d'une fasce abaissée d'or et surm. d'une autre fasce du même [V. Kievit.]”
NetherlandsRotterdam, c. 1815
Where the Bisschop Arms Were Recorded
Rotterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bisschop arms are recorded
The Bisschop arms were recorded in Rotterdam, c. 1815.
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
Rotterdam
Town
Rotterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Bisschop 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 Bisschop 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 Bisschop Family in Netherlands
The surname Bisschop is a Dutch occupational name that translates directly to the word bishop. In the Middle Ages, names like this were often given to people who worked for the church, served in a bishop’s household, or perhaps played the role of a bishop in local festivals and plays. By the time the family was firmly established in Rotterdam in 1815, the name had become a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the early nineteenth century, Rotterdam was a bustling port city undergoing significant changes due to the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families living in the city at this time were often involved in the maritime trade, craftsmanship, or the growing administrative sectors that defined the city’s recovery. As the family settled into life in Rotterdam, they became part of the urban fabric of a city that was rapidly transforming into a global center for commerce and shipping.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
episkopos
Ancient Greek term meaning overseer or guardian.
This name
BisschopAn occupational surname for someone who served a bishop or acted in a similar official capacity.
also spelled
Bysschop
Biskop
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1959
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
