Map of Netherlands showing where the Kilian arms are recorded
The Kilian arms were recorded in Bois-le, 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
Bois-le
Town
Bois-le
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Kilian 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 Kilian 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 Kilian Family in Netherlands
The name Kilian has deep roots in European history, originating as a variation of the ancient Gaelic name Cillian, which means "little church" or "warrior." While the name is associated with Saint Kilian, an Irish missionary who traveled through Germany in the seventh century, the family line eventually established a strong presence in the region of Bois-le-Duc, also known as 's-Hertogenbosch. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Kilian family were living in this area during a time of great political change in the Netherlands. As the region transitioned from the Napoleonic era into the newly formed United Kingdom of the Netherlands, these early family members were likely involved in the local trade, agriculture, or civic life that defined the town. Their presence in this historic city suggests that the family was part of the local community during a pivotal moment in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cillíne
Derived from the Gaelic word for church or little cell.
This name
KilianA diminutive form representing a small church or a devotee of the church.
also spelled
Kylian
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
