A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boek family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2456 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tranché, d'azur au bouc ramp. d'arg., accorné d'or, sur arg. à une plante de sin., terrassée du même; à la bande ondée de sa., br. sur le tranché.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Boek Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Boek arms are recorded
The Boek 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 Boek 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 Boek 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 Boek Family in Netherlands
The family name Boek has deep roots in the northern Dutch province of Friesland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1815. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle Dutch word for book, which suggests that early ancestors may have been associated with literacy, record-keeping, or the trade of manuscripts in a time when such skills were highly specialized. In the Frisian region, names often evolved from occupations or personal traits, and the transition to a fixed surname like Boek reflects the growing need for formal identification during the early nineteenth century. As the family settled into Frisian life, they became part of a unique cultural landscape defined by its own language and strong maritime traditions. By the time official civil registries were standardized in the Netherlands, the Boek family was already firmly integrated into the local community, contributing to the agricultural and social development of their home province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bōk
A Proto-Germanic term referring to the beech tree.
This name
BoekA topographic name for someone who lived near a beech tree or beech forest.
Related arms
Bokvariant spelling
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
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2024
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
