A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Graaf family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1143 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un croc d'arg., le fer en bas, cant. de quatre étoiles du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Graaf Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Graaf arms are recorded
The de Graaf 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 de Graaf 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 de Graaf 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 de Graaf Family in Netherlands
The surname de Graaf is a classic example of a topographic or descriptive name that emerged in the Low Countries. In Dutch, the name translates literally to "the count," though it was rarely used to indicate actual nobility. Instead, it was often given as a nickname to someone who acted with the authority of a leader or perhaps to a person who worked on the estates of a local nobleman. By the early 19th century, the family had established a clear presence in the northern province of Friesland. During this period, the Dutch government began requiring formal registration of surnames for tax and census purposes, which helped solidify the spelling of the name as it appears in official records today. The family members living in Friesland during the 1815 era were likely part of the local agricultural or trade communities that defined the region’s economy at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graaf
A noble title denoting a count or a high-ranking administrative official.
This name
de GraafRefers to someone who served in the household of a count or lived on count-owned land.
also spelled
Graeff
Graaf
Grafe
de Graf
Related arms
Graeffvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De Nederlandse familienamen: ontstaan en betekenis, 1947
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811-1950)
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
