A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coning family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3982 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à un cheval cabré de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Coning Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Coning arms are recorded
The Coning 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 Coning 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 Coning 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 Coning Family in Netherlands
The family name Coning finds its roots in the linguistic traditions of the Low Countries, where it evolved as a descriptive term linked to the Middle Dutch word for king. In the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland, the name began to appear in official records during the early nineteenth century. By 1815, the implementation of the Napoleonic civil registry required families to adopt and formalize permanent surnames, which helped solidify the Coning identity in local census and tax documents. Historically, families bearing this name in Friesland were often integrated into the rural agricultural economy, living in close-knit communities that relied on the fertile soil of the northern coastal plains. While the name likely originated as a nickname or a reference to a person’s role in local pageantry or community leadership, it eventually became a stable hereditary identifier that connected the family to the distinct cultural and linguistic heritage of the Frisian people.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. crusily fitchée gu. three garbs of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coning Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coning arms are recorded
The Coning 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Netherlands when the Coning arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Coning Family in England
The family name Coning has deep roots in Northern England, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in the city of York as early as 1620. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration, placing the family in a region defined by its rich medieval heritage and shifting social structures. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic traditions, potentially linked to occupational or descriptive roots common in the Yorkshire area. As the seventeenth century progressed, families like the Conings were often involved in the local merchant classes or the agricultural life of the North Riding. By establishing themselves in a major urban hub like York, these early ancestors were well-positioned to participate in the economic changes that shaped England during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kuningaz
Proto-Germanic term for a tribal leader or king.
This name
ConingRefers to a person associated with royalty or serving in a king's household.
also spelled
Conyng
Konig
Related arms
Königvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Geboorteakten (1811–1915)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (1811–1842)
De Vries, J., Nederlands Etymologisch Woordenboek, 1971
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
