Map of Netherlands showing where the Kieft arms are recorded
The Kieft 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.
Region
Amsterdam
Town
Amsterdam
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Kieft 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 Kieft 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 Kieft Family in Netherlands
The surname Kieft originates from the Low Countries and carries a history deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Dutch language. In Middle Dutch, the word "kieft" was often used as a descriptive term for a noisy or quarrelsome person, likely serving as a nickname that eventually became a hereditary family name. By the early 19th century, the family was well-established in the bustling urban environment of Amsterdam. Records from 1815 show that members of the Kieft family were active participants in the city’s social and economic life during a time when the Netherlands was transitioning into a new kingdom. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant change as Amsterdam rebuilt its status as a major center for trade and culture following the Napoleonic era. The name has since persisted as a marker of this long-standing connection to the urban history of the Dutch capital.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kijf
A quarrel, dispute, or argument.
This name
KieftA nickname for a quarrelsome or argumentative person.
also spelled
Kieftt
Kiefte
Kift
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Bevolkingsregister 1815
Nationaal Archief, Burgerlijke Stand van de Gemeente Amsterdam
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen: verklaring van de voornamen van mannen en vrouwen, 1964
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
