A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilster family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5360 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
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 un arbre terrassé de sin.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Gilster Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Gilster arms are recorded
The Gilster 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 Gilster 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 Gilster 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 Gilster Family in Netherlands
The family name Gilster has deep roots in the northern coastal regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living among the unique landscape of polders and waterways that define the Frisian identity. During this period, the region was undergoing significant political change as it transitioned from Napoleonic rule back to the sovereignty of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Gilsters often worked in trades related to the local maritime economy or agriculture, which were the primary drivers of the Frisian lifestyle in 1815. The name itself reflects the linguistic traditions of the Low German and Frisian borderlands, where surnames were often shaped by local dialects and the specific occupations or geographic features associated with a family’s home. Through these early records, we see a family integrated into the social fabric of a resilient community that has long valued its independence and cultural heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisel
A Germanic term referring to a hostage or a noble pledge.
This name
GilsterA patronymic or occupational name derived from a person associated with a pledge or hostage.
also spelled
Gilste
Gilster
Gilstt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
