A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bruining family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1414 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 éc. de sa. et d'arg.; au 2 d'arg. à trois étoiles de gu. C.: deux bras parés, supp. ensemble une boule.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Bruining Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Bruining arms are recorded
The Bruining 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 Bruining 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 Bruining 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 Bruining Family in Netherlands
The family name Bruining is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally formed by adding a suffix to the given name of a father. In this case, the name stems from the personal name Bruin, which translates to brown and likely referred to a person with brown hair or a dark complexion. By the early 19th century, the family was firmly established in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. Official records from 1815 confirm that members of the family were living in this region during a time when the Dutch government mandated that all citizens register their permanent surnames. Because Friesland has a unique cultural and linguistic history compared to the rest of the Netherlands, the Bruining family was part of a close-knit society that relied heavily on farming and maritime trade. These early ancestors helped shape the local community, and their presence in the Frisian civil registries provides a clear starting point for tracing the family line through the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bruno
Derived from the Germanic word for brown or armor.
This name
BruiningA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Bruno or someone with brown hair.
also spelled
Bruning
Related arms
Bruininckvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2024
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1811–1950
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.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
