A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Douma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 8946 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à trois étoiles d'or, 2 et 1, acc. en p. d'un croiss. d'or.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Douma Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Douma arms are recorded
The Douma arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Douma 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 Douma 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Douma Family in Netherlands
The surname Douma is a classic example of a Frisian patronymic name that eventually became a fixed family surname. In the early history of the Netherlands, people in the province of Friesland often identified themselves by adding a suffix to their father’s first name to show lineage. The name Douma likely evolved from the personal name Douwe, with the suffix "-ma" added to indicate that a person belonged to the family or household of Douwe. By the time of the Napoleonic civil registration in 1811 and the formal record-keeping established by 1815, families were required to adopt permanent surnames. Many individuals living in the Frisian countryside chose to solidify these traditional descriptive names into official family names. Consequently, the Douma name became a permanent marker of identity for families rooted in the northern coastal regions of the Netherlands, reflecting a deep connection to the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Frisian people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dowe
A Frisian personal name derived from the Germanic word for dove.
This name
DoumaA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Dowe.
also spelled
Doumah
Douman
Doum
Dooma
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Twerda, H., Fan Fryslâns Forline, 1968
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) 1811–1950
Tresoar, Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum, Archief van de Burgerlijke Stand
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
