A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bosum family of Netherlands.
Reg. 8434 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti: au 2 d'or à trois roses de sa., rangées en pal. C.: deux pl. d'aut., d'or et de gu.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Bosum Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bosum arms are recorded
The Bosum 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 Bosum 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 Bosum 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 Bosum Family in Netherlands
The family name Bosum finds its historical roots in the northern region of Friesland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1815. During this period, the name was closely tied to the unique cultural and linguistic landscape of the Frisian people, who maintained distinct traditions and naming patterns separate from the rest of the Netherlands. The name likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near a specific wooded area or a sheltered piece of land, as the prefix "bos" is often linked to forest-related terms in Germanic languages. As the family established itself in the rural communities of Friesland, they became part of a society defined by maritime trade, agriculture, and a strong sense of local autonomy. By the early 19th century, the formal registration of the name in official records helped solidify the family identity, reflecting a time when surnames were becoming increasingly standardized across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bos
A Dutch word referring to a forest, woods, or thicket.
This name
BosumA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in the woods.
also spelled
Walta
Bosum
Walta-Bosum
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frysk Histoarysk en Letterkundich Sintrum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Ypema, Y., De Friese bevolking in de 19e eeuw, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
