A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goertzen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2306 · 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Netherlands showing where the Goertzen arms are recorded
The Goertzen 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 Goertzen 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 Goertzen 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 Goertzen Family in Netherlands
The name Goertzen is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Goert or Gert. This naming tradition was common in Northern Germany and the Low Countries, where the name evolved from the Low German form of Gerhard. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Goertzen family were living in Harderwijk, a historic town in the Netherlands known for its university and its role as a port on the Zuiderzee. During this period, the family likely worked as tradespeople or laborers, as Harderwijk served as a major departure point for soldiers and settlers heading to the Dutch East Indies. The family name remained tied to these regional roots as generations moved through the changing political landscape of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and brave or hardy.
This name
GoertzenA patronymic form meaning son of little Gerhard or son of Gert.
also spelled
Goerts
Gortz
Gurtz
Gertz
Gerts
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1958
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
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
