Map of Netherlands showing where the Keilman arms are recorded
The Keilman 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 Keilman 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 Keilman 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 Keilman Family in Netherlands
The surname Keilman has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Frisian landscape. During this era, the Netherlands underwent significant social and administrative changes, including the formal registration of surnames under Napoleonic influence. The name likely evolved from regional Germanic dialects, where it functioned as a descriptive term or a reference to a specific trade or location. As the family navigated the transition from rural life to the more structured society of the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, they became part of the local fabric of Frisian history. Their presence in these northern territories reflects a long history of community integration and the steady development of family lineages across the Dutch provinces.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
columnFortitude and constancy
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
knightChivalry and service in arms
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une colonne d'or, cour. du même, sur son piédestal aussi d'or; le fût entouré en haut d'une couronne de laurier de sin.; au 2 d'or à un sauvage de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, posé sur une terrasse de sin., tenant une massue posée sur son épaule; au 3 d'azur à trois triangles vidés d'or, 2 et 1, posés sur l'un de leurs angles. C.: le sauvage, entre un vol de sa.”
HolsteinHolstein, c. 1632
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Map of Germany showing where the Keilman arms are recorded
The Keilman arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1632.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Netherlands when the Keilman 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 Holstein.
Origin & History of the Keilman Family in Germany
The name Keilman is deeply rooted in the northern German region of Holstein, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1632. During the seventeenth century, this area was a complex landscape shaped by the Thirty Years' War and shifting political loyalties between local dukes and the Danish crown. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive occupational or personal identifier, derived from the Middle Low German word "keil," which could refer to a wedge or a tool used in woodworking and construction. Families living in Holstein during this era were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trades that supported the growing market towns. As the region navigated the hardships of the mid-1600s, the Keilman family remained part of the local social fabric, eventually spreading from these rural northern roots into the broader administrative and economic life of the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Keil
A wedge or a tool used for splitting wood or stone.
This name
KeilmanA person who worked as a wedge maker or used wedges in their trade.
also spelled
Kielmann
Kielmane
Kilman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811-1950)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
columnFortitude and constancy
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
knightChivalry and service in arms
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
