A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harders family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4698 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un berger pass., posé de profil, hab. de gu., coiffé d'un chapeau du même, tenant la houlette sous le bras, accosté en p. de deux moutons élancés et adossés de gu.”
GueldersGuelders, c. 1815
Where the Harders Arms Were Recorded
Guelders
Map of Netherlands showing where the Harders arms are recorded
The Harders arms were recorded in Guelders, c. 1815.
Guelders was river country in the east of the Netherlands, held by families whose estates sat along the water. Land there stayed in the same hands for generations, and long tenure is what fills a register of 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
Guelders
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Harders 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 Harders 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 Guelders.
Origin & History of the Harders Family in Netherlands
The surname Harders is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Harder. The name Harder itself is rooted in Germanic languages and often relates to the word for a shepherd or someone who is strong and hardy. By 1815, records confirm that the Harders family was well-established in the region of Guelders, which is a historic area in the eastern part of the Netherlands. During this period, families in this region were often tied to the land through farming or local trade. As the Napoleonic era came to a close and the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed, the government began to standardize civil records. This transition required families to formally register their surnames, helping to cement the Harders name as a permanent family identity within the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
Germanic element meaning brave, hardy, strong, or courageous.
This name
HardersA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone who was brave or strong.
also spelled
Harderss
Harderse
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gelders Archief, Burgerlijke Stand Gelderland, Geboorteakten, 1815
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2023
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lambGentleness, patience and faith
lambGentleness, patience and faith
