A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Engels family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0815 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'arg. à trois arbres de sin., rangés sur une terrasse du même; au chef de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Engels Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Engels arms are recorded
The Engels 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 Engels 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 Engels 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 Engels Family in Netherlands
The surname Engels is a patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is most commonly linked to the Germanic name Engel, which translates to angel, but it was often used as a short form for longer names like Engelbert or Engelhard. By the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well-established in the northern region of Friesland. During this period, the Netherlands began implementing more formal civil registration systems to track citizens. Because Friesland was a hub for trade and agriculture, families like the Engels were often deeply connected to the local community and the specific naming customs of the Frisian people. These families helped shape the social fabric of the region as they transitioned into the modern era of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Engel
Derived from the Germanic tribal name of the Angles.
This name
EngelsA patronymic surname meaning son of Engel, often associated with angelic or messenger qualities.
also spelled
Engelss
Engelz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen in Nederland, 1956
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1811–1950
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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
