A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ference family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5199 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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 une rose d'arg., tigée et feuillée du même, posée sur un tertre de trois coupeaux au nat.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Ference Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Ference arms are recorded
The Ference 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 Ference 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 Ference 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 Ference Family in Netherlands
The surname Ference carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of Northern Europe. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Friesland. This area, located along the North Sea coast, was known for its distinct linguistic traditions and independent spirit. Families living there during this period often relied on agriculture and maritime trade to sustain their livelihoods. As the name spread through local communities, it became a marker of the family’s identity within the changing social structures of the Netherlands. The presence of the family in Friesland by 1815 suggests they were part of the foundational population that navigated the transition into the modern era of the Dutch state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Franciscus
Latin name meaning a Frenchman or a free man.
This name
FerenceA Hungarian and Dutch variant derived from the Latin name meaning free man.
also spelled
Ferenz
Ference
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregister van Friesland (1811-1815)
Hofstee, P., Friesland in de negentiende eeuw, 1982
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
