A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé de sa. sur or. C.: un buste de More, hab. d'or (Arm. v. G.)”
The Holt 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Holt arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Holt originates from the Middle Dutch word "holt," which translates to wood or forest. In the northern regions of the Netherlands, such as the province of Friesland, this name likely identified families who lived near a wooded area or worked in the timber trade. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing the Holt name were well-established within the Frisian landscape. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes, including the formalization of civil registration in 1811. This legal shift required families to adopt and record permanent surnames, helping to solidify the identity of the Holt lineage across local census and parish documents. These early ancestors were part of a rural society deeply connected to the land, and their name served as a practical link to the natural environment that defined their daily lives in the northern provinces.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second sonSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. on a bend engr. sa. three fleurs-de-lis of the field, a crescent for diff”
The Holt arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1567.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 England in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Holt arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The surname Holt is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. In Old English, the word *holt* referred to a small wood, a thicket, or a grove of trees. Families who took this name likely lived near a prominent wooded area, making it a common identifier for people across various parts of England. By the time the family was firmly established in Lancaster in 1567, the name had already been in use for several generations as a way to distinguish individuals from their neighbors. Because the name describes a natural feature rather than a specific town, it emerged independently in different regions, reflecting the deep connection between early English families and the local environment they inhabited.
A Germanic term referring to a wood or a forest.
