A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hersom family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1617 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or au lion de sa.; b. de sin. à trois coeurs mal-ordonnés d'or. C.: trois pl. d'aut.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Hersom arms are recorded
The Hersom 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 Hersom 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 Hersom 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 Hersom Family in Netherlands
The name Hersom traces its roots to the northern coastal regions of Europe, with documented evidence placing the family in the province of Friesland by 1815. During this period, the Frisian landscape was defined by its unique legal traditions and a strong emphasis on maritime trade and agriculture. Families in this region often adopted surnames that reflected their specific geographic location or their ancestral ties to the land. As the Napoleonic era concluded and the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established, local officials began more rigorous civil registration processes. This shift helped solidify the spelling of the name as it appears in official records today. The early Hersom family members were likely part of a resilient community that navigated the social and political changes of the nineteenth century while maintaining deep connections to their Frisian heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hert
A male deer or stag.
This name
HersomA patronymic surname derived from a nickname for a swift or timid person.
also spelled
Haersman
Haersmah
Haersm
Harsma
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
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
