A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fey family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3094 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De sin. au chef d'arg. ch. de neuf mouch. d'herm. de sa., 3 et 4 [V. van Broeckhuysen, Poskyn et Schelberg.]”
GueldersGuelders, c. 1815
Where the Fey Arms Were Recorded
Guelders
Map of Netherlands showing where the Fey arms are recorded
The Fey arms were recorded in Guelders, c. 1815.
Guelders was river country in the east of the Netherlands, held by families whose estates sat along the water. Land there stayed in the same hands for generations, and long tenure is what fills a register of 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
Guelders
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Fey 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 Fey 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 Guelders.
Origin & History of the Fey Family in Netherlands
The surname Fey has deep roots in the region of Guelders, a historic area located in what is now the eastern part of the Netherlands. During the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well-established in the local community, often working as farmers or skilled tradespeople. The name itself is thought to have originated as a short form of Germanic names like Friedrich or as a descriptive nickname derived from local dialects. By 1815, when the region was transitioning into the newly formed United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Fey family was already integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Guelders landscape. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant political change, as the area moved from French control to the leadership of the Dutch monarchy. Their presence in official records from this era shows that they were settled, tax-paying citizens who helped shape the rural identity of the province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Feye
Derived from the Germanic word for peace or protection.
This name
FeyA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Feye or Frederick.
also spelled
Feye
Feyh
Fay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gelders Archief, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) records for the province of Gelderland, 1811–1815
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregisters (Population Registers) of the Guelders region
Berkhout, J. M., Nederlandse Familienamen: Herkomst en Betekenis, 1992
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1988
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
ermineDignity and rank
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
