A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bouwer family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2528 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois feuilles de houx d'arg., les tiges en bas ou en haut. C.: une branche feuillée de trois pièces.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Bouwer Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bouwer arms are recorded
The Bouwer 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 Bouwer 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 Bouwer 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 Bouwer Family in Netherlands
The surname Bouwer is a classic occupational name that originated in the Low Countries, derived from the Middle Dutch word "bouwer," which translates to a farmer or a tiller of the soil. During the early nineteenth century, the family established a notable presence in Amsterdam, a city that was rapidly transforming following the end of the Napoleonic era in 1815. At this time, the name reflected the vital role that agricultural laborers and landowners played in the Dutch economy. As the family settled into the urban environment of Amsterdam, they likely transitioned from rural farming traditions into the diverse trades and mercantile activities that defined the city’s growth. By documenting their lives in official registers during this period, the Bouwer family became part of the historical fabric of a nation rebuilding its identity after years of political upheaval.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bouwen
A Middle Dutch verb meaning to build, cultivate, or till land.
This name
BouwerAn occupational surname for a builder, a farmer, or a peasant who cultivates land.
also spelled
Bouwers
Bower
Bouwerr
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
