A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Botter family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2789 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 la fasce de sa., acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis de gu. C.: deux bras, arm. au nat., supp. ensemble une fleur-de-lis de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Botter Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Botter arms are recorded
The Botter 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 Botter 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 Botter 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 Botter Family in Netherlands
The family name Botter is deeply rooted in the northern coastal regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that the family was well-established in this area, living among the unique landscapes and maritime traditions of the Frisian people. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname, as the word "botter" refers to a specific type of flat-bottomed fishing boat historically used in the shallow waters of the Zuiderzee and the Wadden Sea. It is probable that early ancestors were involved in the fishing industry or boat building, utilizing these sturdy vessels to navigate the complex coastal waterways. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of Friesland, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the region during the 1800s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bot
A messenger, herald, or a person who carries out official commands.
This name
BotterAn occupational surname for a boatman or a person who operated a flat-bottomed fishing vessel.
also spelled
Boter
Related arms
Amasmayrsimilar arms
Baraldisimilar arms
Bethesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
