A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Formen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6323 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à un bouquetin ramp. de sa., langué de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à l'aigle de gu., l'estomac ch. d'un coeur d'or, la pointe en haut. C.: le bouquetin, iss.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Formen Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Formen arms are recorded
The Formen 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 Formen 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 Formen 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 Formen Family in Netherlands
The family name Formen traces its roots to the coastal region of Friesland, a historical area in the northern Netherlands known for its distinct language and independent spirit. By 1815, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this province, a time when the region was transitioning into the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name likely evolved from local naming customs where individuals were identified by their occupation or their connection to a specific landscape. Because the Frisian people maintained strong maritime and agricultural traditions, the name may have been linked to the hardworking settlers who drained the marshlands to create fertile soil. Over generations, the family became part of the social fabric of the Frisian countryside, living through the significant political shifts that defined the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Forma
Latin term meaning shape, mold, or appearance.
This name
FormenAn occupational surname for a craftsman who worked with molds or forms.
also spelled
Formen
Adelaar
Formen Adelar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811-1950)
Wumkes, G.A., Stads- en dorpskroniek van Friesland, 1930
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
