A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fonz family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4646 · 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 Fonz Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Fonz arms are recorded
The Fonz 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 Fonz 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 Fonz 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 Fonz Family in Netherlands
The family name Fonz finds its historical roots in the northern region of Friesland, where members of the family were documented as residents by 1815. During this period, Friesland was undergoing significant administrative changes following the end of the Napoleonic era and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families living in this coastal area often relied on agriculture, maritime trade, or local craftsmanship to sustain their livelihoods. The name itself likely evolved from regional naming customs, which frequently incorporated short, descriptive sounds or local linguistic variations common to the Frisian language. As the nineteenth century progressed, the Fonz family became part of the broader social fabric of the province, contributing to the local community through their daily work and participation in regional life. By tracing their presence back to this era, we see a family deeply connected to the unique cultural and historical landscape of the northern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alfonso
Derived from the Germanic elements for noble and ready or eager.
This name
FonzA patronymic or shortened form originating from the Germanic name meaning noble and prepared.
also spelled
Fonse
Fonss
Fonz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland (1811-1900)
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Friesland (1811-1950)
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
