A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Demer family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6078 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la croix de sa., ch. de cinq coquilles d'or et acc. de douze merlettes du sec., trois dans chaque canton, 2 et 1 (Arm. v. G.)”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Demer Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Demer arms are recorded
The Demer 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 Demer 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 Demer 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 Demer Family in Netherlands
The family name Demer finds its historical roots in the northern region of Friesland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1815. During this period, Friesland was a landscape defined by its unique Frisian language and a strong tradition of independent farming and maritime trade. Families in this area often adopted surnames based on their specific geographic location, their father’s given name, or their trade. The name Demer likely evolved from these local linguistic roots, reflecting the cultural shifts occurring as the Netherlands transitioned into a unified kingdom. By the early 19th century, civil registration laws began to standardize these names, fixing the spelling of Demer into official records for the first time. This transition helped preserve the family identity as they navigated the social and economic changes of the post-Napoleonic era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
De Mere
Derived from the Middle Dutch word for a lake or pool.
This name
DemerRefers to a person who lived near a body of water or a marshy area.
also spelled
Demmer
Demere
Demerr
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 (1811–1950)
H.J. Poppinga, Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van hun oorsprong en verspreiding (1998)
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (2010)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
