A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Felling family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4387 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un cygne d'arg., bq. et m. de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Felling Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Felling arms are recorded
The Felling 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 Felling 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 Felling 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 Felling Family in Netherlands
The surname Felling traces its roots to the northern coastal regions of Europe, with documented evidence placing the family in the province of Friesland by the early nineteenth century. During this period, Friesland was a region defined by its unique language and a strong tradition of independent farming communities. Families like the Fellings often lived in small, tight-knit villages where names were frequently tied to local geography or specific ancestral trades. By 1815, the political landscape of the Netherlands was undergoing significant changes following the Napoleonic era, which led to more formal record-keeping for citizens. This transition required families to solidify their surnames in official civil registries, helping to preserve the identity of the Felling name as it moved through generations. The history of the family is deeply connected to the resilience of Frisian culture, reflecting a long heritage of adapting to life in a landscape shaped by the sea and shifting borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vellinga
Derived from the Germanic personal name Vello meaning will or desire.
This name
FellingA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Vello or from the Vellinga farmstead.
also spelled
Felling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) of Friesland, 1811–1950
H.K.S. Bakker, Friese familienamen, 1995
J.A. Mol, Friesland in de Middeleeuwen, 2017
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
