A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamaker family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5795 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'or à trois bandes de gu.; au canton de sa.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Hamaker Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Hamaker arms are recorded
The Hamaker 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 Hamaker 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 Hamaker 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 Hamaker Family in Netherlands
The family name Hamaker is deeply rooted in the history of the Netherlands, with clear records placing the family in the province of Friesland by the year 1815. The name itself is likely occupational in origin, derived from the Middle Dutch word "hamaker," which referred to a craftsman who made "hamen." These were the wooden collars used for horses and oxen, an essential tool for farmers and transporters in a society that relied heavily on animal labor. As the family established itself in the northern regions of the Netherlands, they became part of the local fabric of Frisian life during a time of significant political change following the Napoleonic era. By the early 19th century, the formal registration of surnames became mandatory under Dutch law, which helped solidify the spelling and lineage of the Hamaker name for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hama
A Germanic term referring to a protective covering or garment.
This name
HamakerAn occupational name for a maker of protective clothing or armor.
also spelled
Hamaker
Hammacker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1811-1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
