A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holle family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0749 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
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)
“de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le chamois, iss. L. d'or et de sa. (Variante : le champ d'azur, le chamois d'arg., accorné et onglé d'or, le rocher de gu., et au lieu de la rose la fleur dite Edelweiss ; L. d'or et d'azur.)”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Holle Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Holle arms are recorded
The Holle 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 Holle 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 Holle 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 Holle Family in Netherlands
The family name Holle carries a deep connection to the northern landscapes of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the Holle family were well-established residents of this region. The name itself is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Middle Dutch word "hol," which refers to a hollow, a valley, or a low-lying area of land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name were likely identified by the specific geography of their homesteads or the low-lying fields they cultivated. As the family grew, they became part of the distinct social fabric of Friesland, a province known for its independent spirit and unique linguistic heritage. By 1815, when the modern civil registry system was being standardized across the Netherlands, the Holle family was already rooted in the local community, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the Frisian countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois bonnets albanais de gu., les cordons passés en saut. C.: un bonnet de l'écu, entre deux drapeaux adossés de gu. T.: à dextre une aigle de gu.; à sen. un Albanais, hab. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet pareil à ceux de l'écu; tenant chacun un drapeau de gu. D.: SUNDER DRUG EDDER SLYKEN.”
GermanyHan, c. 1765
Where the Holle Arms Were Recorded
Han
Map of Germany showing where the Holle arms are recorded
The Holle arms were recorded in Han, c. 1765.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Netherlands when the Holle arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Holle Family in Germany
The surname Holle is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern and Central Germany, where it likely originated as a topographic name. In the Middle Ages, the term "hol" often referred to a hollow, a valley, or a sunken road, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name lived near such a landscape feature. By the time records confirm the family presence in the village of Han in 1765, the name had already been established for generations within the local agrarian society. Families in this region were typically tied to the land, and their identity was closely linked to the specific geography of their home. As the family grew in Han, they became part of the long-standing social fabric of the German countryside, where names were often passed down through oral tradition and parish registers. This transition from a descriptive nickname to a formal family name reflects the broader historical shift toward structured record-keeping in German villages during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Holda
A Germanic mythological figure associated with the earth and winter.
This name
HolleDerived from a topographic name for someone living in a hollow or valley.
also spelled
Holler
Hole
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Geboorteakten (1811–1915)
Tresoar, Frysk Histoarysk en Letterkundich Sintrum, Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
hat or capDignity, and the honour of office
