A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9263 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'arg. à la fasce d'azur, ch. d'une étoile d'or; au 2 de gu. à deux trèfles d'or, l'un sur l'autre.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Bouma Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bouma arms are recorded
The Bouma 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 Bouma 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 Bouma 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 Bouma Family in Netherlands
The surname Bouma originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, where it functioned as a topographical name. In the Frisian language, the suffix "-ma" typically denotes a person who belongs to a specific family or household, while "bou" is derived from the word for building or agriculture. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely master builders or prosperous farmers who managed significant homesteads. By the time formal civil registration was mandated in the Netherlands in 1811 and 1815, the name was already well-established across the Frisian landscape. Families carrying the Bouma name were deeply integrated into the local agrarian society, often passing down their trade and property through generations in the rural villages of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bouwman
A person who works in construction or is a builder.
This name
BoumaAn occupational surname referring to a builder or a farmer who constructs dwellings.
also spelled
Bouman
Boumans
Buma
Booma
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Centre), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811-1950
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
