A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elis family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5369 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa.; au 2 d'azur à deux étoiles d'or, l'une sur l'autre.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Elis Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Elis arms are recorded
The Elis arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Elis 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 Elis 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Elis Family in Netherlands
The family name Elis has deep roots in the northern region of the Netherlands known as Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name likely evolved as a patronymic, which means it was originally derived from the given name of a father or an ancestor. In the Dutch naming tradition, names often shifted from simple descriptions of a person to permanent family surnames during the Napoleonic era. When the government required citizens to register formal surnames in 1811, many families in Friesland chose names that reflected their local heritage or ancestral ties. The presence of the Elis family in Friesland by 1815 suggests they were part of this transition toward fixed family identities. This period was a time of great change for the Dutch people as they moved away from older naming customs toward the modern system used today.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. three legs couped at the thigh ar”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Elis Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Elis arms are recorded
The Elis arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Netherlands when the Elis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wales.
Origin & History of the Elis Family in Wales
The surname Elis traces its roots back to the ancient Welsh tradition of patronymics, where a person was identified by their father’s given name rather than a fixed family surname. The name itself is derived from the Welsh form of Elias, which became popular throughout the region during the medieval period. By the time the family was firmly established in Denbigh in 1647, the transition toward using Elis as a permanent hereditary surname was well underway. During this era, families in North Wales often held land through complex systems of kinship and local tenure. The presence of the Elis family in Denbigh suggests they were part of the local gentry or a prosperous farming class that helped shape the social and economic life of the town. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family name became a fixed marker of their identity, linking their specific household in Denbigh to a long lineage of Welsh ancestors who had lived in the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elijah
Hebrew for my God is Yahweh.
This name
ElisA patronymic surname derived from a shortened form of the biblical name Elijah.
also spelled
Eliss
Elisz
Ellys
Ely
Elys
Related arms
Ellysvariant spelling
Elyvariant spelling
Elysvariant spelling
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
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2010
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (Dutch place names explained), 2018
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
legStrength and swiftness
