Map of Netherlands showing where the Ehlen arms are recorded
The Ehlen arms were recorded in Bois-le, 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
Bois-le
Town
Bois-le
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Ehlen 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 Ehlen 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 Ehlen Family in Netherlands
The surname Ehlen is primarily rooted in the regions of the Rhineland and the Low Countries, where it emerged as a patronymic name derived from the given name Eilert or Egil. By the early 19th century, members of the family were firmly established in the area of Bois-le-Duc, which is known today as 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. During the period surrounding 1815, this region underwent significant political shifts as it transitioned from the Napoleonic era into the newly formed United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families living in this city at that time were often involved in the local trade and craft guilds that defined the economic life of the province. The presence of the Ehlen name in these official municipal records suggests that the family was part of a stable, settled community that navigated the complex administrative changes of post-revolutionary Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Egil
Old Germanic root meaning edge of a sword or awe.
This name
EhlenA patronymic surname derived from the personal name Egil, signifying descendant of Egil.
also spelled
Ellen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum, Burgerlijke Stand 's-Hertogenbosch (1811–1815)
Van der Aa, A.J., Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden, 1840
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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