A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Copal family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1030 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
foxWit and wisdom in defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 d'arg. à trois chouettes cont. au nat., rangées en fasce; au 3 de sin. à deux renards cont. de gu., l'un sur l'autre; au 4 d'arg. à un édifice de gu. sur une terrasse de sin., sous un ciel d'azur. Sur le tout coupé, de sin. à une fleur-de-lis d'or, sur gu. à un croiss. d'arg.; à la fasce d'arg., br. sur le coupé.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Copal Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Copal arms are recorded
The Copal 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 Copal 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 Copal 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 Copal Family in Netherlands
The family name Copal is deeply rooted in the history of the northern Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, which was a time of significant transition following the end of French rule and the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name itself likely evolved from older regional dialects or occupational descriptions common in the coastal areas of the Low Countries. During this period, the Frisian population was known for its strong sense of local identity and its distinct legal traditions. As the Dutch government began to standardize civil registration in 1811, families like the Copals were formally documented in local registries, which solidified the spelling and lineage of the name for future generations. This era marked a shift toward more permanent record-keeping, allowing us to trace the presence of the family as they navigated the agricultural and maritime life that defined the Frisian landscape in the early 1800s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
copa
A Latin term referring to a female innkeeper or tavern keeper.
This name
CopalAn occupational surname historically denoting someone who managed an inn or tavern.
also spelled
Kopal
Copall
Copale
Related arms
Frieswyksimilar arms
Nicolaisimilar arms
Tademasimilar arms
Kopalvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland)
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
foxWit and wisdom in defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
foxWit and wisdom in defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
