A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Witt family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5518 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
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 au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois trèfles du même; en chef une colombe d'arg., tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier de sin. et perché sur la cime du chev. C.: une main de carn., tenant une flèche de sa.; entre un vol, d'arg. et d'azur.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the de Witt Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Witt arms are recorded
The de Witt arms were recorded in Amsterdam, 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
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the de Witt 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 Witt 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 Witt Family in Netherlands
The surname de Witt is a classic Dutch name that translates literally to "the white." It likely began as a descriptive nickname used to identify an ancestor by their physical appearance, such as someone with very light hair or a pale complexion. By the time the family was firmly established in Amsterdam in 1815, they were part of a long tradition of urban Dutch citizens who contributed to the city's growth as a center of trade and culture. While the name is associated with several prominent historical figures in the Netherlands, the family members living in Amsterdam during the early nineteenth century were part of a period of great change as the country transitioned into the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. These ancestors were likely merchants, craftsmen, or professionals who helped shape the daily life of the city during the post-Napoleonic era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
witte
A Middle Dutch adjective meaning white or fair-haired.
This name
de WittA descriptive nickname for a person with a very pale complexion or light-colored hair.
also spelled
Dewit
de Wit
Related arms
de Witvariant spelling
Witt (de) dit Vrenckevariant spelling
Witt (de) van Espendonckvariant spelling
Witte (de) - Flandrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Vries, Johannes. Nederlandsche Banken: Hoofdlijnen uit de geschiedenis van het Nederlandse bankwezen. 1970
Israel, Jonathan. The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806. 1995
Van der Aa, A.J. Biographisch Woordenboek der Nederlanden. 1852
Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Doop-, trouw- en begraafregisters
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregister van Amsterdam
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
