A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graaf family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9448 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un croc d'arg., le fer en bas, cant. de quatre étoiles du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Graaf Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Graaf arms are recorded
The Graaf 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 Graaf 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 Graaf 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 Graaf Family in Netherlands
The surname Graaf originates from the Dutch language and carries a historical connection to the title of count or a high-ranking noble official. In the Netherlands, names often developed from occupational roles or social status, and this name likely identified an ancestor who served in the administration of a local ruler or managed lands for a nobleman. By the year 1815, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the northern province of Friesland. During this period, the Napoleonic administration required citizens to register their surnames officially, which helped solidify the spelling and lineage of families across the region. These early ancestors in Friesland were often involved in the agricultural and maritime trades that defined the coastal economy of the time, helping the name transition from a descriptive title into a permanent family identity passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Comes
A Latin term for a companion or attendant to a ruler.
This name
GraafRefers to a count or a nobleman holding a title of nobility.
also spelled
Graeff
Graaf
Grafe
de Graf
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen en familienamen in Nederland, 1964
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
