A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harda family of Netherlands.
Reg. 0286 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 coupé: a. d'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'or; b. de gu. à une clé d'or. C.: deux pl. d'aut., de gu. et d'azur.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Harda Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Harda arms are recorded
The Harda arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Harda 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 Harda 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Harda Family in Netherlands
The surname Harda has deep roots in the northern region of Friesland, where the family was well-established by the early nineteenth century. In the Frisian language and culture, names often reflected the geography of the land or the specific characteristics of the people living there. The name Harda likely stems from old Germanic roots that suggest strength, resilience, or a firm nature, which were qualities highly valued in the coastal farming communities of the time. By 1815, when the Netherlands began formalizing civil registration, the Harda family was already documented as part of the local population. These early family members were typically involved in agriculture or maritime trades, which were the primary ways of life in the Frisian provinces. Their presence in official records from this era shows that they were integrated into the social and legal structures of the region as the modern Dutch state was being formed.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
Old Germanic term meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
HardaA locative or descriptive surname referring to a person who is courageous or resilient.
also spelled
Harder
Haerdae
Haerdda
Harda
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
