A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Keyser family of Netherlands.
Reg. 8102 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois cors-de-chasse du champ. C.: un sauvage iss. de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant une massue posée sur son épaule [Armes du célèbre statuaire, Henri de Keyser, auteur de la tombe monumentale du prince Guillaume d'Orange, dit le Taciturne, à Delft.]”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Keyser Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Keyser arms are recorded
The de Keyser 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 Keyser 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 Keyser 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 Keyser Family in Netherlands
The surname de Keyser is a classic example of an occupational name, originating from the Middle Dutch word "keyser," which translates to emperor. During the Middle Ages, such names were often given to people who played the role of a king or emperor in local theatrical performances or festive processions. By the time official records confirm the family presence in the province of Friesland in 1815, the name had long transitioned from a descriptive title to a stable hereditary surname. In the northern regions of the Netherlands, families often adopted these formal names as civil registration became mandatory under Napoleonic law. The history of the name reflects a time when public identity was frequently tied to one’s social role or reputation within the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kaiser
Derived from the Latin title Caesar meaning emperor or ruler.
This name
de KeyserAn occupational surname for someone who served in the household of an emperor or acted in a regal manner.
also spelled
de Keiser
de Keysere
de Keisere
de Kaiser
Keyser
Related arms
de Kuyservariant 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, 2003
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1951
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1815
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
