A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Broek family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3022 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'arg. à un chaudron de sa., la cornière de gu., entouré de flammes d'or, et suspendu à une traverse de gu., posée en chef. Cq. cour. C.: le chaudron (sans traverse). L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Broek Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Broek arms are recorded
The Broek 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 Broek 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 Broek 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 Broek Family in Netherlands
The surname Broek is a topographic name that originated in the Low Countries, specifically referring to people who lived near a marsh, a swamp, or a piece of low-lying land. In the Dutch language, the word *broek* describes a wetland or a meadow that is prone to flooding. Families often adopted this name to identify their home or the specific plot of land they farmed. By the time official records began to track the family in the province of Friesland around 1815, the name was already well-established across the region. Because the landscape of the Netherlands is defined by its water management and low elevation, many families living in rural areas took on this name to distinguish themselves from those living on higher ground. Over time, the name became a permanent family identifier that reflected the connection between the early ancestors and the unique geography of their homeland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broek
A marshy or swampy piece of land.
This name
BroekRefers to someone who lived near a marsh, swamp, or wetland area.
also spelled
Broeck
Brook
Related arms
Brookvariant 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. 2003
Van der Schaar, J. Woordenboek van voornamen. 1992
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum). Burgerlijke Stand 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.
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
fireZeal and purification
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
fireZeal and purification
