A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bodt family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0279 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'une plie nageante de sa.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Bodt Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bodt arms are recorded
The Bodt 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 Bodt 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 Bodt 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 Bodt Family in Netherlands
The family name Bodt has deep roots in the northern region of the Netherlands known as Friesland. By the early 19th century, members of the family were well-established in this area, which was a time of significant transition for the Dutch people following the end of the Napoleonic era. The name itself is thought to be derived from older Germanic terms related to a messenger or a person who delivered official notices, suggesting that early ancestors may have held roles within their local communities that required travel or communication. As the family lived in the Frisian landscape, they were part of a unique culture that maintained its own distinct language and traditions for centuries. By 1815, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was officially formed, the Bodt family was already a settled part of the regional population, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the Frisian provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bode
A messenger or herald in medieval Germanic languages.
This name
BodtAn occupational surname referring to a person who served as a messenger or official courier.
also spelled
Bodte
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 (1811–1950)
Van der Aa, A.J., Biographisch Woordenboek der Nederlanden, 1852
Winkler Prins, A., Geïllustreerde Encyclopaedie, 1884
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
