A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Witte family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9346 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
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 trois abeilles d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une abeille d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Witte Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Witte arms are recorded
The de Witte 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 Witte 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 Witte 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 Witte Family in Netherlands
The surname de Witte is a descriptive name that originated in the Low Countries, likely serving as a nickname for an ancestor with fair hair or a pale complexion. While the name is found throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Friesland by the early nineteenth century. During this period, the region was undergoing significant administrative changes following the end of the Napoleonic era, and the family became part of the local social fabric as they navigated the transition to the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands. Because surnames were becoming more standardized during this time, the family name served as a vital link to their ancestral roots while they contributed to the agricultural and civic life of the Frisian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
wit
Old Germanic word for white or bright color
This name
de WitteA descriptive nickname for a person with white hair or a pale complexion
also spelled
Witte
Witt
Wyt
de Wit
Related arms
du Lyssimilar arms
van den Berghsimilar arms
Wittevariant spelling
Witte (de) - Anversvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1957
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.
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
