A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brink family of Netherlands.
Reg. 8828 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
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)
“De gu. à un buste d'homme de carn., portant moustaches et une barbe pointue, hab. d'or, posé de profil, coiffé d'un bonnet houppé d'or. C.: le buste.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Brink arms are recorded
The Brink 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 Brink 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 Brink 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 Brink Family in Netherlands
The surname Brink is a classic topographical name that originated in the Low Countries and Northern Germany. In the Dutch and Low German languages, the word brink refers to a grassy area or a village green located on the edge of a settlement. Families who lived near these common lands often adopted the name to identify their place of residence to others in the community. By the early nineteenth century, the name was well established across the northern provinces of the Netherlands, including the region of Friesland. Records from 1815 confirm that members of the Brink family were living and working in this area during a time of significant social and political change as the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands was being formed. These ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who relied on the local landscape for their livelihood, helping to solidify the family name within the historical fabric of the Frisian countryside.
Brink Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
brink
A grassy edge or border of a village or field.
This name
BrinkA topographic name for someone who lived near the edge of a village green or common land.
Related arms
Brinckvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 1993
Meertens, P.J. De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen. 1957
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum). Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811-1950)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
