A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Herma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3945 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'arg. au lion de sa.; b. d'or à trois glands effeuillés de sin., les queues en bas. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Herma arms are recorded
The Herma 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 Herma 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 Herma 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 Herma Family in Netherlands
The family name Herma finds its historical roots in the northern region of the Netherlands known as Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that the family was well-established in this area, particularly around the year 1815. The name itself is likely a patronymic or a shortened variation of older Germanic given names, such as Herman or Harimann, which were common in the coastal provinces of the Low Countries. During this period, the people of Friesland maintained a distinct cultural identity and a unique language, which influenced how surnames were recorded and passed down through generations. As the Napoleonic administration introduced more formal civil registration systems in the Netherlands during the early 1800s, families like the Hermas began to solidify their names in official government ledgers, marking a transition from traditional naming customs to the permanent family surnames we recognize today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hariman
A Germanic compound meaning army man or warrior.
This name
HermaDerived from a short form of Germanic names containing the element hari, meaning army or warrior.
also spelled
Herma
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1815
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2023
Huizinga, A., Encyclopedie van namen, 1955
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
