A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoeksema family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1078 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à deux pelles de bois au nat., passées en saut., les manches en bas, liées au point d'intersection d'un ruban de gu.; au 2 coupé: a. d'arg. à trois trèfles mal-ordonnés de sin.; b. d'azur à un cygne nageant sur une eau d'arg., le tout au nat.”
NetherlandsLeeuwarden, c. 1815
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Netherlands showing where the Hoeksema arms are recorded
The Hoeksema arms were recorded in Leeuwarden, c. 1815.
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
Leeuwarden
Town
Leeuwarden
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Hoeksema 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 Hoeksema 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 Hoeksema Family in Netherlands
The family name Hoeksema originates from the northern provinces of the Netherlands, specifically within the region of Friesland. The suffix "ma" is a common marker in Frisian surnames that indicates a person belongs to a specific household or family line. Historically, the name likely began as a way to identify individuals living near a "hoek," which refers to a corner of land or a bend in a waterway. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Hoeksema family were well-established in the city of Leeuwarden. During this period, the implementation of the Napoleonic civil registry required families to formally adopt and register their surnames, solidifying the name as a permanent family identity. These early ancestors were part of a growing urban population in Leeuwarden, contributing to the local trade and social life of the capital city during the transition into the modern era of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hoek
A corner, bend, or piece of land projecting into water.
This name
HoeksemaA patronymic surname indicating a person who lived at or near a corner or bend.
also spelled
Hoekma
Hookema
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Twerda, H., Fan Fryslâns forline, 1968
Winkler, J., De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Leeuwarden, Geboorteakten 1811-1815
Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden, Bevolkingsregister Leeuwarden
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
