A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hettinga family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9985 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois glands effeuillés d'or, les queues en bas. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. de gu. et d'or. T.: un homme et une femme sauvages, ceints de lierre, l'homme arm. d'une massue, posée sur son épaule.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Hettinga arms are recorded
The Hettinga 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 Hettinga 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 Hettinga 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 Hettinga Family in Netherlands
The surname Hettinga originates from the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. In the Frisian naming tradition, the suffix "-inga" indicates that a person belonged to the family or household of a man named Hette. During the early 19th century, the Dutch government required citizens to register permanent family names to simplify tax collection and military conscription. By the time of the official 1811 name registration period, which was fully enforced by 1815, the Hettinga family was already well-established in the Frisian countryside. These early ancestors were typically farmers or laborers who lived in small rural communities. Because Friesland maintained a distinct language and cultural identity separate from the rest of the Netherlands, the family name reflects the unique linguistic roots of the region. Over generations, the name became a permanent marker of their Frisian heritage and their deep connection to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hette
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for command or order.
This name
HettingaRefers to the descendants or people belonging to the household of Hette.
also spelled
Hetting
Hettinghe
Related arms
Pont (du) de Busqueausimilar arms
van den Bergensimilar arms
van Peltsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Naamsaanneming 1811: Friesland, 1811-1812
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811-1950
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
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
