Map of Netherlands showing where the Jansma arms are recorded
The Jansma 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 Jansma 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 Jansma 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 Jansma Family in Netherlands
The Jansma surname originates from the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The name follows a traditional Frisian naming pattern where the suffix "-ma" indicates that a person belongs to a specific family or household. In this case, the name is derived from "Jan," which is the Frisian form of the name John. By the time the Dutch government required citizens to register permanent family names in 1811 and 1815, the Jansma family was already well-established in the Frisian countryside. Many early members of the family worked as farmers or laborers in the rural villages of the region. Because Friesland had a unique culture and language compared to the rest of the Netherlands, the family name serves as a direct link to the distinct heritage of the Frisian people during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious
This name
JansmaA Frisian patronymic surname meaning son of Jan or John
also spelled
Jens
Jensman
Yensma
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) of Friesland, 1811–1950
Hacker, J.H., Friese familienamen, 1989
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
