A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boom family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7381 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à un arbre, et une licorne couchée au pied du fût, le tout au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Boom Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Boom arms are recorded
The Boom 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.
Region
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Boom 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 Boom 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 Boom Family in Netherlands
The surname Boom is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. In the Dutch language, the word *boom* translates directly to tree. During the time when surnames became common in the Netherlands, families often adopted this name because they lived near a prominent or unique tree that served as a local landmark. By the time the family was firmly established in Amsterdam in 1815, the name had already been in use for generations throughout the Low Countries. During the early nineteenth century, Amsterdam was a bustling center of trade and recovery following the Napoleonic era. Families like the Booms were part of the growing urban population that helped rebuild the city’s economy. Because the name is rooted in the natural environment, it reflects a deep connection to the Dutch landscape that existed long before the family records became centralized in city archives.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'or à un arbre arr. de sin.; à la bord. de gu., ch. de huit flanchis du champ.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Boom Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Boom arms are recorded
The Boom arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Netherlands when the Boom arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Boom Family in France
The family name Boom finds its roots in the historical region of Flanders, which straddled the border between modern-day France and Belgium during the seventeenth century. In the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this area, where the name likely originated as a topographical descriptor. In the local Dutch and Flemish dialects of the time, the word boom translates to tree, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent landmark or a specific wooded area. Because this region was a frequent site of territorial shifts and cultural exchange between the French crown and the Spanish Netherlands, families living there often navigated a complex blend of linguistic influences. Over time, the name became a fixed identifier for these individuals as they moved through the towns and villages of the northern French frontier, marking them as people deeply connected to the landscape of their origin.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
baum
A Germanic term referring to a living tree or wooden beam.
This name
BoomA topographic surname for someone who lived near a prominent tree.
also spelled
Bom
Related arms
Bomvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1963
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
