A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Klerk family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3108 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un poisson d'arg., posé en bande.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Klerk Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Klerk arms are recorded
The de Klerk 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 Klerk 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 Klerk 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 Klerk Family in Netherlands
The surname de Klerk is rooted in the Dutch word "klerk," which historically referred to a clerk, a scholar, or a person who could read and write. In the medieval period, this title was often given to individuals who served in administrative roles for the church or local government. By the time the family was firmly established in the northern province of Friesland in 1815, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname. Families living in this region during the early nineteenth century often experienced significant social shifts as the Netherlands moved through the Napoleonic era and into the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. During this time, the de Klerk family likely participated in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined Frisian life, maintaining their identity as literate and organized members of their local communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clericus
A member of the clergy or a learned person.
This name
de KlerkRefers to a person who served as a clerk, scribe, or scholar in a medieval setting.
also spelled
de Klerck
de Clerck
de Clercq
Klerk
Related arms
de Clerckvariant spelling
de Clercqvariant spelling
de Klerckvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 1993
Van der Schaar, J. Woordenboek van voornamen. 1964
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Fryslân (Civil Registration of the province of Friesland)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
