A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferens family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7768 · 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 Ferens Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Ferens arms are recorded
The Ferens 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 Ferens 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 Ferens 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 Ferens Family in Netherlands
The surname Ferens is deeply connected to the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly the province of Friesland. While the name appears in official records during the early nineteenth century, its roots likely stretch back to the distinct linguistic and cultural traditions of the Frisian people. In 1815, the introduction of the civil registry in the Netherlands required families to adopt fixed surnames, which helped formalize the spelling and documentation of names like Ferens. Before this period, many families in the region used patronymic naming systems, where a child’s last name was based on their father’s first name. The transition to a permanent family name suggests that the ancestors of the Ferens line were established members of their community who sought to solidify their identity during a time of significant administrative change in Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ferus
Latin term meaning wild, untamed, or fierce.
This name
FerensA surname historically denoting a wild, fierce, or untamed individual.
also spelled
Ferenz
Ference
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1815
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Family Name Database), 2010
Huizinga, Frans, Stammen en Namen in Friesland, 1988
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
