A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brevoort family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6967 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'or sur gu., l'or ch. de deux serpents ondoyants en pal et affr. de sin., et le gu. d'un serpent ondoyant en pal d'or, les queues des serpents remontantes; l'or ch. en outre d'une tête humaine de carn., posée de profil entre les deux serpents, les épaules hab. d'une étoffe brunâtre.”
GroningenGroningen, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Brevoort arms are recorded
The Brevoort arms were recorded in Groningen, c. 1815.
Groningen was northern Dutch country of reclaimed land and free farmers. Families who held their own ground counted as gentry there, and gentry carried 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
Groningen
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Brevoort 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 Brevoort 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 Groningen.
Origin & History of the Brevoort Family in Netherlands
The Brevoort family name originates from the Low Countries, specifically rooted in the historical landscape of the Netherlands. By the early 19th century, members of the family were well-established in the northern province of Groningen, where they participated in the local social and economic life of the region. The name itself is topographical in nature, likely derived from the Dutch words "bree" and "voort," which together suggest a location near a wide crossing or a ford in a river. This indicates that the earliest ancestors probably lived near a significant waterway or a bridge that served as a vital transit point for their community. Over generations, the family transitioned from these rural origins into various professional roles, maintaining a presence in Groningen that reflects the broader history of Dutch families who settled in the northern provinces during the Napoleonic era and the subsequent formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brede Voorde
A wide ford or shallow crossing point in a river.
This name
BrevoortRefers to someone who lived near a wide crossing point of a stream or river.
also spelled
Brevoort
Brevoord
van Brevoord
van Brevort
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Groningen Archives, Groninger Archieven: Burgerlijke Stand (1811-1942)
Huizinga, A., Encyclopedie van namen, 1955
Van der Meer, G., Nederlandse Familienamen, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
