A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreier family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2966 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à deux masses à picotons d'or, passées en saut.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. a un fer-à-cheval d'arg., les bouts en bas, et entre ses branches trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'arg.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Dreier Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Dreier arms are recorded
The Dreier arms were recorded in Amsterdam, 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
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Dreier 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 Dreier 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 Dreier Family in Netherlands
The surname Dreier is rooted in the Germanic languages and is traditionally an occupational name derived from the word for a turner or a worker who shaped wood and metal on a lathe. By the early 19th century, members of the family were established in Amsterdam, a city that served as a major hub for trade and craftsmanship during the Napoleonic era. As the Netherlands transitioned into a new kingdom following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, families like the Dreiers were often involved in the city's vibrant merchant class or specialized artisanal guilds. These early ancestors likely navigated the shifting political landscape of the Dutch capital while maintaining their professional identity as skilled tradespeople. Their presence in Amsterdam during this pivotal time suggests they were part of the urban workforce that helped rebuild the city's economy after years of foreign occupation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drie
The Dutch word for the number three.
This name
DreierAn occupational or habitational name referring to a third son or a person living on a third plot.
also spelled
Dreier
Dreyar
Dryer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Geyl, Pieter, Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse stam, 1948
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
