A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coopman family of Netherlands.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à un ballot carré de gu., lié d'une corde en croix d'or et houppé aux angles du même.”
The Coopman arms were recorded in Dordrecht, 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Coopman arms are first recorded.
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 family name Coopman originates from the Middle Dutch word *koopman*, which translates directly to merchant or trader. During the medieval period, surnames were often adopted to describe a person’s occupation, and this name likely identified an ancestor who traveled to sell goods or manage a marketplace. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Coopman family were established in the city of Dordrecht. At that time, Dordrecht was a vital center for trade and shipping in the Netherlands due to its strategic location on the river. It is highly probable that the family’s presence in this city was linked to its historical reputation as a hub for commerce, allowing those with the name to continue the professional traditions of their ancestors.
A merchant or trader who buys and sells goods.
