A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dekker family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6812 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 un faucon de sa., bq. de gu., volant en bande.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Dekker Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Dekker arms are recorded
The Dekker 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 Dekker 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 Dekker 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 Dekker Family in Netherlands
The surname Dekker is a classic occupational name that originated in the Low Countries, specifically within the regions of the Netherlands and Northern Germany. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch word "dekker," which translates to a roofer or a thatcher. During the medieval period, people were often identified by the trade they practiced, and those who specialized in covering roofs with reeds or straw became known by this title. By the time official records began to track families more consistently in the early 19th century, the name was well-established across the northern provinces. In Friesland, the Dekker family was already a recognized part of the local population by 1815, living in a region known for its unique culture and distinct linguistic history. These early ancestors were likely skilled tradespeople who played an essential role in building and maintaining the rural farmhouses and village structures that defined the Frisian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dek
a covering, roof, or thatch
This name
Dekkeran occupational name for a roofer or a thatcher
also spelled
Dekere
Decker
Related arms
Deckervariant 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
Van der Schaar, Jo. Woordenboek van voornamen, 1983
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland (1811-1825)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
