A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Val family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0906 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or au lion naiss. d'azur, mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'or à deux chev. entrelacés de gu., l'un renv. et mouv. du coupé.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Val Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Val arms are recorded
The de Val 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 Val 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 Val 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 Val Family in Netherlands
The family name de Val appears in the historical record of Friesland during the early nineteenth century, a period marked by significant administrative changes in the Netherlands. During this time, the Napoleonic Code required citizens to adopt and register permanent surnames for official government use. Families living in the northern provinces often chose names that reflected their connection to the local landscape or their specific social standing within the community. The name de Val suggests a geographic origin, as the term often relates to low-lying land or valleys found in various European regions. By 1815, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established, the family was already well-integrated into the Frisian social fabric. These early records indicate that the family members were part of the transition toward modern civil registration, which helped solidify their identity in the official archives of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
valle
Latin term referring to a valley or low-lying land.
This name
de ValIndicates a person who lived in or originated from a valley.
also spelled
Val
Valle
Related arms
de Vahlvariant spelling
Valvariant spelling
Vallevariant spelling
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 (1811–1815)
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (1811–1815)
S.J. van der Molen, De Friezen in de negentiende eeuw (1975)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
