A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buys family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0902 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois oiseaux d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles d'or, dont une en chef entre les oiseaux et les deux autres en flancs; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg.”
NetherlandsHarlem, c. 1815
Where the Buys Arms Were Recorded
Harlem
Map of Netherlands showing where the Buys arms are recorded
The Buys arms were recorded in Harlem, 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.
Region
Harlem
Town
Harlem
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Buys 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 Buys 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 Buys Family in Netherlands
The surname Buys traces its roots back to the Low Countries, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname derived from the Middle Dutch word *buus*, which often referred to a person with a stout or robust build. By the time the name became established in the Netherlands, families carrying this identity were often found among the industrious merchant and artisan classes. While the name was scattered across various provinces, records confirm that members of the Buys family were well-established in the city of Haarlem by 1815. During this period, Haarlem was a center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Buys clan contributed to the local economy through various skilled trades. The name reflects a long history of social integration within Dutch urban life, moving from a simple nickname to a recognized family identity that persisted through generations of growth and change in the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au chev. d'or, ch. de cinq tourt. d'azur et acc. de trois bes. du sec. C.: un lion iss. de gu. L. d'or et de gu.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1757
Where the Buys Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Buys arms are recorded
The Buys arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1757.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in Netherlands when the Buys arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Buys Family in France
The family name Buys has deep roots in the northern regions of France and the neighboring territories of Flanders. During the eighteenth century, the name was closely tied to the complex cultural and political landscape of the borderlands where French and Flemish influences often overlapped. By 1757, records confirm that members of the Buys family were well-established residents of this area, living through a period marked by shifting borders and agricultural development. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname used to identify individuals within their local communities. As these families moved through the towns of northern France, they contributed to the local labor force and participated in the social life of the region. Their presence in the mid-1700s reflects a history of stability and community integration that defined the lives of many families in the French provinces during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boudewijn
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold or brave friend.
This name
BuysA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Boudewijn.
also spelled
Buise
Bays
Related arms
van Gesellesame arms
Buisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Noord-Hollands Archief, Bevolkingsregister van Haarlem
Nationaal Archief, Burgerlijke Stand en Bevolking
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
