A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Braet family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2166 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
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 oiseaux d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Braet Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Braet arms are recorded
The Braet 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 Braet 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 Braet 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 Braet Family in Netherlands
The surname Braet is deeply rooted in the coastal regions of the Low Countries, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in the northern province of Friesland by 1815. The name itself is thought to derive from Middle Dutch, where it was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a broad or sturdy physical build. During the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were typically integrated into the local agricultural and maritime communities that defined the Frisian landscape. As the population shifted during this era, members of the Braet family were documented in official civil registers, which helped solidify the name as a permanent fixture within the region. These early ancestors were part of a broader social movement that saw families transition from traditional rural life into the more structured administrative systems of the modern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bred
Middle Dutch term for broad or wide.
This name
BraetA descriptive nickname for a person with a broad or stout physical build.
also spelled
Braett
Braette
Brat
Brayt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
