A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doll family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3096 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une baleine d'arg., nageant sur une fasce ondée du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Doll Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Doll arms are recorded
The Doll 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 Doll 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 Doll 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 Doll Family in Netherlands
The surname Doll is deeply rooted in the history of Northern Europe, particularly within the coastal regions of the Netherlands and Germany. By the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well established in the province of Friesland. The name itself likely originated as a shortened form of Germanic given names like Dolbert or Rudolf, which were common during the Middle Ages. In the Frisian context, families often lived in rural farming communities where they were closely tied to the land and local maritime trade. As the region underwent significant administrative changes during the Napoleonic era, many families began to formalize their surnames in official civil records. This transition helped solidify the identity of the Doll family as they navigated the social and economic shifts of the early 1800s in the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dolle
Derived from the Middle Dutch word for mad or foolish.
This name
DollA nickname for an eccentric, wild, or impulsive individual.
also spelled
Dolle
Dol
Dohl
Related arms
Dolvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar, Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (1811–1950)
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2023
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
