A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goertz family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1478 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à trois écussons d'arg.; au 2 coupé: a. de sin. à trois fleurs-de-lis de sa.; b. de sin. à un mouton pass. d'arg., cour. d'or. C.: un écran ovale d'azur, entouré d'une couronne de feuillage de sin. et ch. d'un écusson d'arg.”
NetherlandsHarderwick Gueldre, c. 1815
Where the Goertz Arms Were Recorded
Harderwick
Map of Netherlands showing where the Goertz arms are recorded
The Goertz arms were recorded in Harderwick Gueldre, 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
Harderwick
Town
Harderwick Gueldre
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Goertz 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 Goertz 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 Goertz Family in Netherlands
The surname Goertz is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Goert. The name Goert itself is a shortened version of the Germanic name Gerhard, which translates to brave spearman. By the early 19th century, families carrying this name were well-established in the Dutch town of Harderwijk. Records from 1815 show that members of the Goertz family were living in this historic Hanseatic city, which was an important center for trade and maritime activity at the time. Because Harderwijk served as a major port and a gateway for soldiers and sailors, the family likely benefited from the town’s role as a bustling hub of commerce and travel during the transition into the modern era of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GoertzA patronymic form indicating son of Gerhard, signifying a brave spearman.
also spelled
Goerts
Gortz
Gurtz
Gertz
Gerts
Related arms
Goertsvariant spelling
Goerzvariant spelling
Görtzvariant spelling
Görtz-Wrisbergvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lambGentleness, patience and faith
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lambGentleness, patience and faith
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
