A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Wild family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4492 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à quatre croisettes de gu., rangées en pal; au 2 coupé: a. d'arg. à une tête de More, tort. d'arg.; b. d'arg. à quatre croisettes de gu., rangées en fasce.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Wild Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Wild arms are recorded
The de Wild 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 Wild 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 Wild 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 Wild Family in Netherlands
The family name de Wild has deep roots in the northern province of Friesland, where records confirm members of the family were living by the year 1815. In the Dutch language, the name is derived from the word wild, which historically described someone who lived in a natural or untamed environment, such as a forest or an uncultivated area. During the early nineteenth century, the Netherlands underwent a period of significant administrative change, leading to the formal registration of surnames for tax and military purposes. Families like the de Wilds were often recorded in local civil registers during this time as the government moved to standardize family identities. Because Friesland was a region defined by its unique language and strong local traditions, the presence of the name there suggests that the family was well-integrated into the rural, agricultural life of the northern Dutch landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
wild
Old Germanic term referring to uncultivated land or untamed nature.
This name
de WildA descriptive surname for someone who lived in or near a wild, uncultivated forest area.
also spelled
Wild
Wilde
Wyld
Related arms
Wildvariant spelling
Wildevariant 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, 1811-1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van familienamen, 1988
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2023
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
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
cross symbolChristian faith and service
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
