A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Wit family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2398 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à une licorne saillante de gu.”
UtrechtUtrecht, c. 1815
Where the de Wit Arms Were Recorded
Utrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Wit arms are recorded
The de Wit 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 de Wit 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 Wit 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 de Wit Family in Netherlands
The surname de Wit is a classic Dutch descriptive name that literally translates to "the white." In the Middle Ages, such names were often given as nicknames to individuals based on their physical appearance, such as someone with very light hair or a pale complexion. By the time the family was documented in Utrecht in 1815, the name had long since transitioned from a simple nickname into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the early 19th century, the Napoleonic administration in the Netherlands required citizens to formally register their surnames for tax and military purposes. This period of record-keeping solidified the identity of the de Wit family within the urban landscape of Utrecht, where they lived and worked as part of the growing Dutch middle class.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
witt
Old Germanic word meaning white or bright.
This name
de WitRefers to a person with a very fair complexion or light-colored hair.
also spelled
Wit
Witt
Wyt
Related arms
Witvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Het Utrechts Archief, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry) Utrecht, 1811-1902
Books: Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1958
Books: 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.
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
