Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à deux chev. d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Holtz 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)“D'azur à deux chev. d'or.”

The Holtz arms were recorded in Amsterdam, 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.
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 name Holtz is deeply rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it translates to wood or forest, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were likely people who lived near or worked within the dense woodlands of Northern Europe. By the time the family was documented in Amsterdam in 1815, the name had become a stable identifier for individuals navigating the bustling urban life of the Netherlands. During the early nineteenth century, Amsterdam was a center of rapid social and economic change following the end of the Napoleonic era. Families like the Holtz clan were part of this evolving society, often working in trades or maritime industries that defined the city’s character. Because the Netherlands served as a crossroads for migration and commerce, the presence of the Holtz name in Amsterdam records reflects a history of movement and integration into a society that valued craftsmanship and civic participation.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois chênes arr. de sin., rangés en fasce, englantés d'or. C.: deux mains d'aigle, l'une br. sur l'autre, celle de derrière de sa., et celle de devant d'or ch. d'une fasce de gu.”

The Holtz arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1765.
Holstein was farming country between the North Sea and the Baltic, held in large estates. The same families kept the same land for generations, and generations of holding is what fills a register.
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.
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.
The surname Holtz is deeply rooted in the German language, where it serves as a topographic name derived from the Middle High German word for wood or forest. Families bearing this name were often associated with those who lived near or worked within the dense woodlands that covered much of the German landscape during the Middle Ages. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that the Holtz family had established a significant presence in the region of Holstein. This northern territory, situated between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, was a dynamic area shaped by its proximity to Denmark and its role in regional trade. For families living in Holstein in 1765, life was defined by the agricultural rhythms of the flat, fertile plains and the unique political status of the duchy. As the name spread across these German-speaking lands, it remained a testament to the family's long-standing connection to the natural environment and the specific geography of northern Germany.
A Germanic term referring to a wood or a forest.