A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ko family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3777 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce ondée d'azur, acc. de trois choucas de sa. Brl. d'or et de sa. C.: un choucas de sa., entre un vol d'or et de sa. L.: de sa. et d'or. S.: à dextre un lion d'arg., à sen. une licorne d'arg. D.: SEMPER IDEM.”
ZeelandZeeland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Ko arms are recorded
The Ko arms were recorded in Zeeland, c. 1815.
Zeeland was a scatter of islands in the south-west of the Netherlands, living on the sea and on land reclaimed from it. Families who drained and held that land were counted among the gentry, and gentry carried 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
Zeeland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Ko 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 Ko 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 Zeeland.
Origin & History of the Ko Family in Netherlands
The surname Ko is a concise and ancient name that primarily traces its roots to the coastal regions of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well-established in the province of Zeeland, a region defined by its complex relationship with the North Sea and its reclaimed land. During this period, the name was often associated with families who worked in agriculture, maritime trade, or local craftsmanship within the island communities of the Scheldt estuary. Because Zeeland was a hub for international shipping and trade, the name likely evolved from shortened versions of longer Germanic or Dutch given names, or it may have served as a descriptive nickname for individuals living near specific landmarks. The presence of the Ko family in official records by 1815 reflects a time when the Napoleonic administration required all citizens to formalize their surnames, cementing the identity of these Zeeland residents for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jacobus
Derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter or held by heel.
This name
KoA Dutch patronymic or topographic surname often serving as a shortened form of Jacobus.
also spelled
Kau
Caux
Caue
Co
Ko
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, Bevolkingsregisters van Zeeland
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank
Zeeuws Archief, Burgerlijke Stand Zeeland, 1811-1950
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
