A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drill family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1973 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à la fasce brét. et c.-brét. d'arg. C.: un écusson des armes.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Drill Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Drill arms are recorded
The Drill arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
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 Drill 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 Drill 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 Drill Family in Netherlands
The surname Drill has deep roots in the coastal region of Friesland, a province in the northern Netherlands known for its distinct language and independent spirit. By the early 19th century, families carrying this name were well-established in the local community, living during a time of significant political change as the region transitioned into the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name itself likely originated from a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific occupation or geographic feature common to the marshy Frisian landscape. Because Friesland maintained a unique legal and cultural identity for centuries, families in this area often kept detailed civil and church records that track their movements and daily lives. These early ancestors were likely farmers, tradespeople, or mariners who contributed to the resilient economy of the Dutch coast. Their presence in the 1815 records marks a period when the Dutch government began standardizing surnames and civil registration, helping to solidify the family identity that persists today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dril
A Middle Dutch term referring to a drill, auger, or boring tool.
This name
DrillAn occupational surname for a person who worked with boring tools or a maker of drills.
also spelled
Drill
Drillen
Drylle
Dril
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Ypema, Y., Geschiedenis van Friesland, 1978
Hofstra, T., Friesland en de Friezen in de 19e eeuw, 1995
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
