A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heeren family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2143 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une étoile d'or, acc. de trois roses d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Heeren Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Heeren arms are recorded
The Heeren 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 Heeren 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 Heeren 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 Heeren Family in Netherlands
The surname Heeren originates from the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly the province of Friesland, where it was well-established by the early nineteenth century. The name itself is a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of an ancestor, specifically the name Heer or Heere. In the Frisian language and culture, these names were often linked to terms of respect or status, reflecting the social standing of the families who held them. By 1815, when the modern system of civil registration was being solidified across the Netherlands, the Heeren family was already deeply rooted in the local agricultural and maritime communities of the Frisian landscape. These early family members lived through a period of significant political transition as the Netherlands moved from French occupation to the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which helped formalize the spelling and documentation of the name in official government records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heer
A Germanic term denoting a master, lord, or gentleman.
This name
HeerenRefers to a person of high social standing, a master, or a nobleman.
also spelled
Herren
Heren
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: Herkomst en verspreiding, 1998
Nederlandse Genealogische Vereniging, Nederlandse Familienamen Databank, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
