A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Co family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9471 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce ondée d'azur, acc. de trois choucas de sa. Brl. d'or et de sa. C.: un choucas de sa., entre un vol d'or et de sa. L.: de sa. et d'or. S.: à dextre un lion d'arg., à sen. une licorne d'arg. D.: SEMPER IDEM.”
ZeelandZeeland, c. 1815
Where the Co Arms Were Recorded
Zeeland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Co arms are recorded
The Co arms were recorded in Zeeland, c. 1815.
Zeeland was a scatter of islands in the south-west of the Netherlands, living on the sea and on land reclaimed from it. Families who drained and held that land were counted among the gentry, and gentry 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.
Region
Zeeland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Co 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 Co 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 Zeeland.
Origin & History of the Co Family in Netherlands
The family name Co has deep roots in the coastal province of Zeeland, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1815. During this period, Zeeland was a region defined by its complex relationship with the sea, and families often relied on maritime trade, fishing, or agriculture to survive. The name itself is notably short, which was common for surnames in the Low Countries that originated from nicknames or shortened versions of longer given names. As the family established their lives in this Dutch province, they became part of a society that was rebuilding itself after the Napoleonic era. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the local community, reflecting the steady and resilient history of the people who called the Zeeland islands their home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Conrad
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold or wise counsel.
This name
CoA short form of names starting with Co-, typically representing a diminutive or patronymic form of Conrad.
also spelled
Kau
Caux
Caue
Co
Ko
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, Bevolkingsregister van Zeeland, 1815
Zeeuws Archief, Burgerlijke Stand Zeeland, 1811–1900
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
