A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kee family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5149 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 d'azur à un croiss. tourné d'arg. à dextre, et deux étoiles d'or, l'une sur l'autre, à sen. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg. [V. Hottinga de Kee.]”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Kee arms are recorded
The Kee 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 Kee 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 Kee 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 Kee Family in Netherlands
The family name Kee has deep roots in the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. By the year 1815, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents within this region. During the early 19th century, Friesland was undergoing significant social changes as it transitioned from the period of French occupation to the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Kee line were often tied to the local agricultural economy or the maritime trades that defined the Frisian coast. Because the Dutch government began requiring standardized surnames for all citizens around this time, the name became officially fixed in civil registries. These early ancestors lived through a time of modernization, helping to shape the cultural identity of the Frisian people during a pivotal era in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kees
A Dutch diminutive form of the name Cornelius meaning horn.
This name
KeeA patronymic surname derived from the given name Cornelius, signifying son of Cornelius.
also spelled
Key
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1815
H.K. Schippers, De burgerlijke stand in Friesland, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
