Map of Netherlands showing where the Englebright arms are recorded
The Englebright 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 Englebright 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 Englebright 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 Englebright Family in Netherlands
The family name Englebright originates from Germanic roots, combining the elements "Engel," meaning angel or angle, and "berht," which translates to bright or famous. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. During this period, the region was undergoing significant political change as it transitioned into the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands following the Napoleonic Wars. Families in Friesland during 1815 often lived in tight-knit agricultural communities where surnames were becoming more formalized for tax and census purposes. Because the name reflects a long history of Germanic naming conventions, it likely traveled through northern Europe before finding a stable home among the Frisian population. These early ancestors were part of a society deeply connected to the land and the maritime trade routes that defined the coastal culture of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Engelbert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright angel or bright sword.
This name
EnglebrightA surname indicating a descendant of someone bearing the name Engelbert, signifying brightness and divine protection.
also spelled
Engelbrekt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland (1811-1825)
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2010
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: Herkomst en verspreiding, 1995
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
duckResourcefulness on land and water
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
duckResourcefulness on land and water
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
