A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Folkers family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6997 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 deux serpents ondoyants en pals de sin. Brl. de gu. et d'arg. C.: une colombe d'arg. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Folkers Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Folkers arms are recorded
The Folkers 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 Folkers 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 Folkers 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 Folkers Family in Netherlands
The surname Folkers is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Folker. The name Folker itself is rooted in ancient Germanic languages, where it combines elements meaning people and army or guardian. By the early 19th century, the family was well-established in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. In 1815, the Netherlands introduced a formal civil registry system that required all citizens to adopt permanent surnames. Because the Folkers family was already using this name to distinguish their lineage in the Frisian countryside, they officially registered it during this period. This transition helped solidify the family identity as they continued their traditional lives in the coastal regions of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Folc
Old Germanic term referring to the people or a tribe.
This name
FolkersA patronymic surname meaning son of the person known as the people's ruler.
also spelled
Folker
Folkers
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen in Nederland, 1951
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
