A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gouda family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1130 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tranché: au 1 de sin. à trois étoiles d'arg.; au 2 d'or à trois lévriers arrêtés, au nat. A la bande de gu., br. sur le tranché. C.: une aigle iss. d'or.”
NetherlandsAmsterdam, c. 1815
Where the Gouda Arms Were Recorded
Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands showing where the Gouda arms are recorded
The Gouda 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 Gouda 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 Gouda 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 Gouda Family in Netherlands
The surname Gouda is deeply connected to the geography and history of the Netherlands. While the name is famously associated with the city of Gouda in the province of South Holland, families bearing this name often adopted it as a way to identify their ancestral origins or their migration from that region. By the early 19th century, members of the Gouda family were well-established in Amsterdam, a bustling center of trade and culture. During this period, the city was undergoing significant changes following the end of the Napoleonic era, and families like the Goudas were active participants in the urban life of the capital. Because surnames were becoming more formalized during this time due to new civil registration laws, the name served as a link between the family’s historical roots in the Dutch countryside and their growing presence in the heart of Amsterdam.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gouwe
A watercourse or a canal in the Dutch language.
This name
GoudaRefers to a person originating from the city of Gouda, located by the Gouwe river.
also spelled
Goudaa
Goudah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1957
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
