A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blaauw family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
legStrength and swiftnessJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au pied humain d'arg.”
The Blaauw arms were recorded in Amsterdam, 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Blaauw arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Blaauw has deep roots in the Dutch language, originating as a descriptive nickname derived from the word "blauw," which means blue. In the Netherlands, such names often began as ways to identify individuals by their physical appearance, such as the color of their eyes or the clothing they frequently wore. By the early 19th century, the family was firmly established in Amsterdam, a city that served as a bustling hub for trade and migration. Records from 1815 show members of the Blaauw family living in this urban center during a time of significant political transition as the Netherlands emerged as a new kingdom. The family name reflects a long history of Dutch naming traditions where simple, visual descriptors evolved into permanent hereditary surnames that were passed down through generations of city dwellers.
legStrength and swiftness
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
anchorHope, and steadfastness in troubleSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. a human foot couped ar. on a canton or, an anchor gu”
The Blaauw arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Blaauw arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The name Blaauw originates from the Dutch word for the color blue and likely served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor before it became a formal surname. While the family roots are firmly planted in the Netherlands, records confirm that members of the Blaauw family were established in the county of Sussex, England, by the year 1620. During this period, many families from the Low Countries migrated across the North Sea to England to escape religious persecution or to pursue new trade opportunities. Once they arrived in Sussex, these early settlers integrated into the local community and began to appear in parish registers and legal documents. This transition marked the beginning of the family’s long presence in England, where they shifted from being foreign merchants or refugees to becoming a recognized part of the English social landscape.
A Dutch adjective meaning the color blue.
