Map of Netherlands showing where the Defreese arms are recorded
The Defreese 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 Defreese 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 Defreese 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 Defreese Family in Netherlands
The family name Defreese carries a rich history that likely traces its roots to the border regions between France and the Low Countries. The name is often considered a variation of the French term "de Frise," which historically identified individuals who originated from the region of Friesland. By the early 19th century, members of the family were firmly established in the city of Utrecht. During this period, Utrecht was a vital center for trade and administration following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Families living in the city at this time often navigated a rapidly changing social landscape as the Netherlands transitioned into a unified kingdom. The presence of the Defreese name in official Utrecht records from 1815 suggests that these ancestors were part of a stable urban population that contributed to the local economy and civic life during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vries
A person originating from the region of Friesland.
This name
DefreeseA locative surname denoting someone who came from the Frisian lands in the Netherlands.
also spelled
Vreese
de Vrayza
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Het Utrechts Archief, Bevolkingsregister van de stad Utrecht (1815)
Het Utrechts Archief, Burgerlijke Stand van de stad Utrecht (1811–1815)
Leendert Brouwer, Nederlandse Familienamen Databank (2010)
P.J. Meertens, De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen (1948)
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