A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geurts family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6229 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
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)
“De gu. à une barrière d'arg., composée de deux poteaux et d'une poutre horizontale passant sur le milieu desdits poteaux et abaissée diagonalement à dextre et à sen. vers les cantons de la p.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Geurts Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Geurts arms are recorded
The Geurts arms were recorded in Amsterdam, c. 1815.
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
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Geurts 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 Geurts 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 Geurts Family in Netherlands
The surname Geurts is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Geurt. The name Geurt itself is a shortened, regional variation of the Germanic name Gerhard, which combines the words for spear and brave. By the time the family was firmly established in Amsterdam in 1815, the use of fixed surnames had become a legal requirement in the Netherlands due to reforms introduced during the Napoleonic era. Before this period, many families in the region used shifting names based on their father's first name, but the 1811 decree forced families to choose a permanent surname for official records. As residents of a bustling trade hub like Amsterdam, the Geurts family likely integrated into the city’s growing merchant and labor classes during this time of significant social and political transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GeurtsA patronymic form meaning son of Gerard, indicating descent from a spear-brave ancestor.
also spelled
Geurtz
Gheurts
Geurtse
Gurts
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
