Map of Netherlands showing where the Klinge arms are recorded
The Klinge 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 Klinge 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 Klinge 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 Klinge Family in Netherlands
The surname Klinge is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive term for a person living near a specific landscape feature. In the German and Dutch languages, the word often refers to a narrow valley, a gorge, or the sharp edge of a blade, suggesting that early ancestors may have been identified by their proximity to a distinct geographical landmark or their trade as metalworkers. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in the coastal region of Friesland. During this period, the area was undergoing significant social and administrative changes following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The presence of the Klinge family in Friesland by 1815 places them within a society that was transitioning toward modern civil registration, which helped solidify the spelling and documentation of family names across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kling
A blade, sword, or a sharp edge.
This name
KlingeA topographic name for someone who lived near a sharp ridge or hill.
also spelled
Klinga
Clinge
Klingee
Related arms
Clingevariant spelling
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
De Vries, J.W., Nederlandse familienamen, 1992
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swordJustice, and military honour
swordJustice, and military honour
