A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Exter family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9183 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. à une pie de sa., tenant en son bec une branche de sin. et posée sur une terrasse du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Exter Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Exter arms are recorded
The Exter 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 Exter 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 Exter 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 Exter Family in Netherlands
The family name Exter has deep roots in the coastal region of Friesland, where members of the family were officially documented as residents by 1815. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, meaning it was used to describe people who lived near a specific landmark or a boundary line. In the Low German and Dutch linguistic traditions, the prefix "ex" or "ext" often referred to a location situated outside of a town wall or on the outer edge of a settlement. As the family established themselves in the Frisian landscape, they were part of a society defined by its unique legal customs and strong agricultural traditions. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple way to identify a person's home to a permanent surname passed down through generations of families living in the northern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Extra
Latin term meaning outside or on the exterior.
This name
ExterA topographic name for someone who lived outside the town walls or boundaries.
also spelled
Extere
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), 1815
Van der Meer, G., Friese Familienamen (Frisian Family Names), 1998
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Family Name Database), 2010
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
