A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dams family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7271 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à deux étoiles d'arg. en chef et un croiss. du même en p.; au 2 d'or à une patte d'aigle de sa., posée en pal, les ongles en bas. C.: un croiss. d'arg., entre un vol du même.”
NetherlandsDeventer, c. 1815
Where the Dams Arms Were Recorded
Deventer
Map of Netherlands showing where the Dams arms are recorded
The Dams arms were recorded in Deventer, 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.
Region
Deventer
Town
Deventer
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Dams 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 Dams 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 Dams Family in Netherlands
The surname Dams is a patronymic name, which means it originally identified a person as the son of someone named Adam. Over many generations, the name shortened and evolved into its current form. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in the historic city of Deventer in the Netherlands. During this period, Deventer was a bustling center of trade and industry along the IJssel River. Families living there often worked in crafts or local commerce, contributing to the growth of the city after the Napoleonic era. The presence of the Dams family in official records from 1815 suggests they were part of the local community during a time of significant transition for the Dutch nation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dam
A barrier or embankment built to hold back water.
This name
DamsA topographic name for someone who lived near a dam or a dike.
also spelled
Dams
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisch Centrum Overijssel, Burgerlijke Stand in Overijssel, 1811-1942
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
legStrength and swiftness
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
legStrength and swiftness
