A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elders family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2496 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à trois étoiles d'or.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Elders Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Elders arms are recorded
The Elders 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 Elders 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 Elders 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 Elders Family in Netherlands
The surname Elders finds its historical roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. During the early nineteenth century, the name was firmly established among families living in this coastal area, where the local culture was deeply shaped by maritime trade and agriculture. The name itself likely originated as a patronymic, which means it was derived from the given name of an ancestor. In the Frisian language and naming traditions of the time, names often evolved from personal descriptors or common local forenames that were passed down through generations. By 1815, when the Dutch government began formalizing civil registration records, the Elders family was already a recognized part of the Frisian community. These early family members lived through a period of significant political change as the Netherlands transitioned into a unified kingdom. Their presence in the regional archives from this era provides a clear link to the social and economic development of the Frisian countryside during the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aldert
Derived from the Germanic elements for old and noble or ruler.
This name
EldersA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Aldert or Elder.
also spelled
Aeldert
Elders
Alders
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Friesland Archives), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811–1950)
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen (1989)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
