Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un arbre de sin., terrassé du même et surm. d'une étoile d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bult family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un arbre de sin., terrassé du même et surm. d'une étoile d'or.”

The Bult arms were recorded in Amsterdam, c. 1815.
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.
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.
The surname Bult has deep roots in the Dutch landscape, often associated with the geography of the northern provinces where the word refers to a small hill or a mound of earth. By the time the family appeared in the official records of Amsterdam in 1815, they were part of a society undergoing significant transition following the end of the Napoleonic era. During this period, the Dutch government required citizens to formalize their family names for civil registration, which helped solidify the spelling and usage of Bult across urban centers. Many families with this name were likely drawn to Amsterdam by the promise of trade and industry as the city began to reclaim its status as a global economic hub. While the name originated as a descriptive term for a person living near a specific land feature, it evolved into a stable identifier for a family navigating the growth and modernization of the Netherlands in the nineteenth century.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gyronny of eight, az. and or, a cinquefoil gu”

The Bult arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them 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.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The family name Bult has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, serving as a vital hub for northern England. Families with this name were likely involved in the local economy, perhaps working as skilled tradespeople or merchants within the city walls. Because York was a major administrative center, the presence of the Bult family suggests they were part of the established urban community that helped shape the city’s growth during the seventeenth century. Over time, the name became linked to the unique social fabric of Yorkshire, reflecting the lives of ordinary people who contributed to the development of one of England’s oldest and most significant cities.
A mound, hillock, or elevated piece of land.