A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Smit family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0166 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 taillé: a. d'azur à une étoile d'or; b. d'arg. à une flèche au nat., posée en barre, la pointe en bas; aux 2 et 3 d'or à trois coquilles d'arg.”
NetherlandsArdembourg Zél, c. 1815
Where the de Smit Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Smit arms are recorded
The de Smit arms were recorded in Ardembourg Zél, 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
Town
Ardembourg Zél
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the de Smit 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 Smit 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 Smit Family in Netherlands
The surname de Smit is a classic occupational name that originated from the Dutch word for a blacksmith. During the medieval period, many families adopted surnames based on their trade to help distinguish individuals within growing communities. By the early 19th century, the name was well-established in the northern province of Friesland, a region known for its distinct cultural identity and independent history. In 1815, the Netherlands underwent a major administrative change when it became the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, and this period saw the formalization of civil registries across the country. Because of these new government requirements, families like the de Smits were officially recorded in local municipal archives, which allows us to trace their presence in the Frisian landscape with great accuracy. These early ancestors were likely integral members of their local villages, providing essential metalwork services that kept agricultural tools and horse-drawn transport functioning in a rural society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Smit
A person who works with metal or a blacksmith.
This name
de SmitRefers to the smith, indicating an occupational surname for a metalworker.
also spelled
de Smitt
de Smid
De Smet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811–1950)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (1811–1825)
Daan, J., Hij zeit wat: Twee eeuwen Nederlands in de mond van de sprekers (1987)
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (2018)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
