A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Codde family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6263 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De sin. à deux massues d'or, passées en saut., les manches en haut, br. sur une flèche d'arg., en fasce.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Codde Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Codde arms are recorded
The Codde 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 Codde 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 Codde 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 Codde Family in Netherlands
The family name Codde has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. While the name appears in official civil records around 1815, its origins likely trace back to the older naming traditions of the Dutch people. In the Middle Ages, many surnames were formed from nicknames or descriptions of a person’s trade or physical traits. The name Codde is thought to be linked to the Middle Dutch word for a codfish, which may have originally served as a descriptive nickname for a fisherman or a merchant who traded in seafood. As the Netherlands moved toward standardized record-keeping in the early 19th century, families who had used these informal names for generations began to register them officially. This transition helped solidify the Codde name as a recognized part of the regional history of Friesland, marking the family as a long-standing presence in the Dutch landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois massues d'or; à la bord. du même. C.: un sauvage iss. de carn., cour. de lierre, arm. d'une massue.”
BelgiumGand, c. 1737
Where the Codde Arms Were Recorded
Gand
Map of Belgium showing where the Codde arms are recorded
The Codde arms were recorded in Gand, c. 1737.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Netherlands when the Codde arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Codde Family in Belgium
The history of the Codde family in Belgium is deeply rooted in the urban landscape of Flanders, particularly within the city of Ghent. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the Codde family were established residents of this bustling center of trade and textile production. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as was common in the Middle Ages for families living in the Low Countries. In the local dialect, the term often related to a type of fish or a specific physical trait, which eventually transitioned into a formal hereditary surname as record-keeping became more standardized across Belgian parishes. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic fabric of Ghent, participating in the daily life of a city known for its influential guilds and long-standing mercantile traditions. Their presence in 18th-century Ghent serves as a clear marker of a family that had successfully transitioned from rural or smaller regional origins into the heart of one of Europe’s most significant historical cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Codde
Derived from the Middle Dutch word codde meaning a club or cudgel.
This name
CoddeA nickname for a person who was short and stout or carried a club.
also spelled
Code
Cod
Related arms
Codesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry), 1811–1950
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1963
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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
