A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doorn family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1752 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à la croix échiq. de sa. et d'or (Doorn); aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un cor-de-chasse d'or, lié et vir. du même.”
UtrechtUtrecht, c. 1815
Where the Doorn Arms Were Recorded
Utrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the Doorn arms are recorded
The Doorn arms were recorded in Utrecht, c. 1815.
Utrecht was an old church town with rich farming country around it. Both the church and the land produced families of standing, and families of standing kept arms to seal their documents with.
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
Utrecht
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Doorn 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 Doorn 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 Utrecht.
Origin & History of the Doorn Family in Netherlands
The family name Doorn is a topographic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the physical landscape where the first ancestors lived. In the Dutch language, the word "doorn" refers to a thorn bush or a bramble, suggesting that the earliest members of the family likely resided near a prominent thicket or a place known for its thorny vegetation. By 1815, records confirm that the family was well-established in the city of Utrecht, a historic hub that served as a major center for trade and religion in the Netherlands. During this period, the implementation of the Napoleonic civil registry required families to formally adopt and register their surnames, which helped solidify the name Doorn as a permanent family identity. As the family grew within the urban environment of Utrecht, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the city's development throughout the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dorn
A Germanic term referring to a thorn or a prickly bush.
This name
DoornRefers to someone who lived near a thicket of thorn bushes or a thorny hedge.
also spelled
Vandoorn-Forden
Doorn
Forden
Dorn van de Forden
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Huizinga, A., Encyclopedie van namen, 1955
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1963
Het Utrechts Archief, Bevolkingsregister Utrecht 1815
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
