A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kemper family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5569 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à deux combattants (oiseaux) affr. d'arg., celui à dextre levant la patte, soutenus d'une champagne d'or. Cq. cour. C.: deux têtes et cols de combattants adossés d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Kemper arms are recorded
The Kemper 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 Kemper 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 Kemper 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 Kemper Family in Netherlands
The surname Kemper is rooted in the Low German and Dutch languages, where it historically identified a person who worked on or lived near a specific type of agricultural plot. The name derives from the word *kamp*, which refers to an enclosed field or a piece of land used for farming. In the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in the northern province of Friesland. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social changes following the end of the Napoleonic era and the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Kempers were often tied to the rural landscape of the Frisian countryside, where their surname served as a practical description of their connection to the land and their role within the local farming community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kamp
An enclosed piece of land or a field.
This name
KemperAn occupational name for someone who worked on or lived near a field.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum). Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland. 1815
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
