A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fons family of Netherlands.
Reg. 8221 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., embrassée de deux rameaux de laurier de sin., les pieds passés en saut. C.: une aigle iss. de sa.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Fons Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Fons arms are recorded
The Fons arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Fons 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 Fons 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Fons Family in Netherlands
The family name Fons traces its roots to the northern region of Friesland, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1815. During this period, Friesland was a distinct area within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, characterized by its unique language and strong agricultural traditions. The name likely evolved from local naming customs where individuals were identified by their connection to specific geographic features or shortened versions of traditional Germanic given names. As the family settled into the rural landscape of the nineteenth century, they became part of the tightly knit Frisian community that prioritized local identity and ancestral heritage. Over time, the name Fons persisted through generations as the family adapted to the social and economic shifts occurring across the Dutch provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alfonso
Derived from the Germanic elements for noble and ready or eager.
This name
FonsA short form of the name Alfonso, signifying a noble and prepared individual.
also spelled
Fonse
Fonss
Fonz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand - Geboorteakte, 1815
Tresoar, Bevolkingsregister van Friesland, 1811-1850
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
branchPeace, and new growth
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
branchPeace, and new growth
