A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Copes family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2565 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 croix échiq. d'arg. et de sa. Sur le tout un écusson d'arg., ch. d'un lion de sa. C.: un vol d'or, chaque aile ch. d'une fasce échiq. de sa. et d'arg.”
UtrechtUtrecht, c. 1815
Where the Copes Arms Were Recorded
Utrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the Copes arms are recorded
The Copes arms were recorded in Utrecht, c. 1815.
Utrecht was an old church town with rich farming country around it. Both the church and the land produced families of standing, and families of standing kept arms to seal their documents with.
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
Utrecht
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Copes 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 Copes 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 Utrecht.
Origin & History of the Copes Family in Netherlands
The family name Copes carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of Utrecht. During this period, Utrecht served as a vital hub for trade and administration following the end of the Napoleonic era. Families living in the city at that time often held roles connected to the local merchant class or the growing civil service. The name itself likely evolved from older occupational or descriptive terms common in the Low Countries, reflecting the linguistic shifts occurring in the region during the transition into the modern Dutch state. As the family navigated life in Utrecht in 1815, they were part of a society rebuilding its identity after years of political upheaval, setting the foundation for the family's long-standing presence in the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jacobus
Derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter or holder of heel.
This name
CopesA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Jacob or a shortened form thereof.
also spelled
Copps
Kopes
Copess
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, Bevolkingsregister van Utrecht, 1815
H.A.M. van der Heijden, Utrecht in de negentiende eeuw, 1994
Het Utrechts Archief, Burgerlijke Stand van de gemeente Utrecht, 1815
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
