A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Donkers family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4166 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à la fasce ondée d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles (8) d'or.”
NetherlandsBois-le, c. 1815
Where the Donkers Arms Were Recorded
Bois-le
Map of Netherlands showing where the Donkers arms are recorded
The Donkers arms were recorded in Bois-le, 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
Bois-le
Town
Bois-le
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Donkers 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 Donkers 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 Donkers Family in Netherlands
The surname Donkers originated in the southern regions of the Low Countries, specifically within the area known as North Brabant. The name is a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name Donker, which likely served as a nickname for an ancestor with a dark complexion or hair. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well established in the fortified city of Bois-le-Duc, which is known locally as 's-Hertogenbosch. Records from 1815 confirm that members of the Donkers family were active residents of this city during a time of significant political transition following the Napoleonic Wars. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the local community, participating in the trade and civic life that defined this historic Dutch city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Donk
A low-lying piece of land or a sandy hill in marshy terrain.
This name
DonkersRefers to a person who lived on or near a sandy hill surrounded by wetlands.
also spelled
Doncker
Donker
Related arms
Donckervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
