A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doud family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6878 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
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'arg. à un rencontre de boeuf de ...., entouré de huit étoiles de ...., posées en orle. C.: une étoile, entre un vol.”
GueldersGuelders, c. 1815
Where the Doud Arms Were Recorded
Guelders
Map of Netherlands showing where the Doud arms are recorded
The Doud arms were recorded in Guelders, c. 1815.
Guelders was river country in the east of the Netherlands, held by families whose estates sat along the water. Land there stayed in the same hands for generations, and long tenure is what fills a register of 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
Guelders
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Doud 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 Doud 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 Guelders.
Origin & History of the Doud Family in Netherlands
The family name Doud is deeply rooted in the historical region of Guelders, which is located in the eastern part of the modern-day Netherlands. By the year 1815, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this area. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions in the Low Countries, where surnames often shifted in spelling based on regional dialects and the way names were spoken aloud. During the early 19th century, Guelders was a place of significant political transition as the region moved from French occupation toward the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Douds lived through this era of change, often working in agriculture or local trades that defined the economy of the Guelders countryside. Over time, the name persisted as a marker of this specific geographic origin, connecting the family to the unique cultural heritage of the Dutch borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dode
An ancient Germanic personal name derived from the word for dead or mortal.
This name
DoudA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person originally named Dode or a variant of David.
also spelled
Doud
Doudes
Doudet
Dood
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gelders Archief, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry of Guelders)
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
