A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heemstra family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5954 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 l'aigle d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle ép. d'or. S.: deux aigles reg. d'or, lamp. de gu.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1826
Where the Heemstra Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Heemstra arms are recorded
The Heemstra arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1826.
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
1826
Granting Authority for the Heemstra 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 Heemstra 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 Heemstra Family in Netherlands
The family name Heemstra finds its historical roots in the province of Friesland, a region in the northern Netherlands known for its unique language and independent spirit. The name follows a traditional Frisian naming pattern, as the suffix "stra" often indicates a person who lived at or near a specific location. In this case, the name likely refers to a homestead or a piece of land associated with the early ancestors of the family. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the Heemstra family were well-established residents within this landscape. These early generations were deeply connected to the rural life of Friesland, where they participated in the local agricultural and social structures that defined the province during that era. As the family grew, they remained a part of the fabric of Frisian society, carrying a name that reflects their deep ties to the geography and history of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
heem
A home, dwelling, or enclosed piece of land.
This name
HeemstraRefers to a person originating from a specific home, estate, or settlement.
also spelled
Heemstra
Heemstrae
Heemstran
van Hemstra
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
Wumkes, G.A., Stads- en dorpskroniek van Friesland, 1930
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
