A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Han family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0582 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 coq hardi de gu., sur une terrasse au nat.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Han Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Han arms are recorded
The Han 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 Han 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 Han 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 Han Family in Netherlands
The family name Han has a distinct history in the Netherlands, particularly within the northern province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this region. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant changes in how surnames were recorded due to the introduction of the civil registry under French rule. Many families in Friesland adopted or solidified their permanent surnames during these years to comply with new government mandates. The name Han likely functioned as a patronymic or a shortened form of a longer Germanic name, reflecting the naming customs common in the coastal areas of the Low Countries. As these families settled into rural life in Friesland, they became part of the local agricultural and social fabric that defined the province during the post-Napoleonic era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 coq d'or, perché sur une flèche d'arg., posée en bande, la pointe en haut. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° une étoile d'or; entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur azur, à sen. d'azur sur arg.; 2° le coq; 3° quatre pl. d'aut. d'azur, d'or, d'azur et d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1566
Where the Han Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Han arms are recorded
The Han arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1566.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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
Tyrol
First recorded
1566
Granting Authority for the Han Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
1564–1576
Reigning in Netherlands when the Han arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Han Family in Austria
The family name Han has deep roots in the mountainous region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1566. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic life of the Alpine valleys, where families often took on surnames based on short, descriptive sounds or local nicknames. As the family settled into the region, they became part of the local administrative and agricultural fabric that defined life in the Holy Roman Empire. Because Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade between Italy and the German lands, the Han family likely benefited from the movement of goods and ideas through the mountain passes. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the local community, leaving a legacy that persisted through the centuries as the family name became firmly anchored in the history of the Austrian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
God is gracious
This name
HanA patronymic surname derived from a short form of the name John.
also spelled
Han
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (National Archives, Civil Registry Registers)
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen (1963)
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse familienamenbank (2008)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
