A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eggen family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1213 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une herse de labour carrée de sa., posée en barre; au chef de gu., ch. de trois gerbes du champ.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Eggen Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Eggen arms are recorded
The Eggen 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 Eggen 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 Eggen 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 Eggen Family in Netherlands
The family name Eggen has deep roots in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly within the region of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, the name was firmly established among the local population, appearing in official civil registration records around 1815. The name itself is likely a patronymic, which means it was originally derived from the given name Egge. In the Germanic naming traditions common to the Frisian area, adding an "n" to a name often indicated that a person was the son of that individual. As families transitioned from using traditional naming patterns to fixed surnames, the Eggen name became a permanent way to identify descendants of a common ancestor. These early family members were typically part of the rural community, living in a landscape defined by agriculture and maritime trade. Their presence in the historical record during this time reflects the broader shift in the Netherlands toward standardized family names for tax, military, and census purposes.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au chev. d'arg., acc. en p. d'une étoile (5) du même, surmontant un tertre de trois pics de sin.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Eggen Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Eggen arms are recorded
The Eggen arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Eggen Family in Switzerland
The surname Eggen finds its roots in the rugged landscape of the Swiss Alps, where the name originated as a topographical descriptor. In the local German dialects of the region, the word "Egg" refers to a sharp mountain ridge or a rocky corner of land. Families who lived near these distinct geographical features often adopted the name to identify their place of residence. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Eggen family had established a notable presence in the city of Bern. Records confirm that members of the family were active residents there by 1745, likely participating in the city's structured guild system or agricultural trade. As they moved through the cantons, these early ancestors helped shape the local community by maintaining deep ties to the land and the evolving urban life of the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Egge
A Germanic name element derived from the word for edge or blade.
This name
EggenA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Egge, meaning son of Egge.
also spelled
Egen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1957
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
