Map of Netherlands showing where the Killian arms are recorded
The Killian 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 Killian 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 Killian 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 Killian Family in Netherlands
The surname Killian has deep roots in European history, with its origins often linked to the Gaelic name Cillian, which translates to "little church" or "warrior." While the name is famously associated with Irish saints, branches of the family also established themselves in continental Europe over the centuries. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Killian family were settled in the region of Bois-le-Duc, which is known today as 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. During this period, the area was undergoing significant political shifts following the Napoleonic Wars. Families living in this region were often involved in local trade, agriculture, or the administrative shifts that defined the post-1815 era. The presence of the Killian name in this specific Dutch location suggests a history of migration and integration into the local community during a time of great change in Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cillín
Derived from the Gaelic word for a small church or cell.
This name
KillianAn Irish surname meaning little church or little warrior, often associated with Saint Killian.
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
