A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Egel family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5754 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au lion de gu. Cq. cour. C.: deux pattes d'ours d'arg., en pals, empoignant chacune une boule d'or.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Egel Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Egel arms are recorded
The Egel 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 Egel 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 Egel 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 Egel Family in Netherlands
The surname Egel has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established members of the local community. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Middle Dutch word for a hedgehog, which was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a prickly personality or perhaps someone with spiky hair. During the Napoleonic era, the Dutch government required citizens to formally register their surnames, which helps explain why the name appears clearly in official civil records starting around 1815. These early Egel families were likely involved in the traditional agricultural and maritime trades that defined Frisian life during that period. As the family grew, they remained closely tied to the unique linguistic and cultural landscape of the region, helping to preserve the identity of the name through generations of rural and town life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Egel
A Germanic term referring to a leech or a hedgehog.
This name
EgelLikely a topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a leech-filled pond.
also spelled
Egel
Egele
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry) of Friesland, 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
