A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Valk family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0848 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à un senestrochère de carn., paré d'azur jusqu'au coude, tenant une plume à écrire en barre, le bec en bas; au 2 de gu. à un faucon d'arg.; au 3 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 4 d'azur à un coutelas d'arg., emm. d'or, posé en barre, la pointe en bas.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the de Valk Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Valk arms are recorded
The de Valk arms were recorded in Amsterdam, c. 1815.
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
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the de Valk 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 Valk 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 Valk Family in Netherlands
The family name de Valk is rooted in the Dutch language, where the word "valk" translates directly to "falcon." In the Middle Ages, surnames often described a person’s occupation, physical traits, or a notable characteristic of their home. For the de Valk family, the name likely originated as a nickname for someone who worked as a falconer or perhaps someone who possessed the keen eyesight or swift nature associated with the bird of prey. By the time the family was firmly established in Amsterdam in 1815, the name had become a permanent identifier passed down through generations. During this period, Amsterdam was a bustling center of trade and urban life, and families like the de Valks were part of the city’s growing population as it transitioned into the modern era of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Falco
A Latin term referring to a bird of prey or falcon.
This name
de ValkRefers to a person who kept, trained, or hunted with falcons.
also spelled
Devalcke
Deval
Related arms
de Valvariant spelling
de Valckevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen en familienamen in Nederland, 1959
Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Bevolkingsregister 1815
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
swordJustice, and military honour
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
swordJustice, and military honour
