A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heerema family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9653 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à trois coquilles de sa.; au 2 d'azur à trois los. d'arg.; au 3 d'arg. à deux glands accostés et effeuillés de sin., les queues en bas, et une feuille de chêne de sin. en p., la tige en bas, C.: une licorne iss. d'arg.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Heerema Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Heerema arms are recorded
The Heerema 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 Heerema 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 Heerema 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 Heerema Family in Netherlands
The surname Heerema originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, a region known for its unique language and independent cultural history. The name follows a classic Frisian naming pattern, where the suffix "-ma" indicates that the family belonged to a specific household or farmstead. Historically, this suffix often denoted a person of standing or a land-owning family within the local community. By the early 19th century, records confirm that the Heerema family was well-established in the Frisian countryside. During this period, the Dutch government began formalizing civil registration, which required families to adopt fixed surnames for tax and census purposes. Because the name was already deeply rooted in the local dialect and geography, it remained a permanent identifier for the family as they transitioned into the modern era of record-keeping.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Here
Old Germanic term referring to an army or a military host.
This name
HeeremaA patronymic surname denoting the son or descendant of a warrior or soldier.
also spelled
Herema
Related arms
Heremavariant spelling
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.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
leafHappiness and abundance
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
leafHappiness and abundance
