Map of Netherlands showing where the Boersma arms are recorded
The Boersma 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 Boersma 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 Boersma 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 Boersma Family in Netherlands
The surname Boersma originates from the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. In the Frisian language, the suffix "ma" typically indicates that a person belongs to a specific family or household. The prefix "Boer" refers to a farmer or a person who works the land. Therefore, the name historically identified a family of farmers who held a prominent position within their local community. By the year 1815, the Dutch government required all citizens to adopt permanent, hereditary surnames to improve tax collection and military conscription. Many families in Friesland chose names that reflected their occupation or the location of their homesteads. The Boersma family likely solidified their name during this period to comply with these new civil registration laws while preserving their long-standing connection to the Frisian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boer
A person who cultivates land or a farmer.
This name
BoersmaA patronymic or locative surname indicating a descendant of a farmer.
also spelled
Bergsmah
Bergsmas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Hofstra, T., Friese familienamen: een overzicht (Frisian Surnames: An Overview), 1998
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
