A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kolkman family of Netherlands.
Reg. 4388 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'herm. à la bande de gu., ch. de trois coquilles d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois poutres de gu., posées en fasces, l'une sur l'autre.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Kolkman arms are recorded
The Kolkman 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 Kolkman 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 Kolkman 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 Kolkman Family in Netherlands
The surname Kolkman originates from the Low German and Dutch linguistic regions, where it functioned as a descriptive name for a person living near a specific landscape feature. In the Dutch language, the word kolk refers to a deep pool, a whirlpool, or a pit created by a dike breach during a flood. Therefore, the name likely identified an early ancestor who resided near such a body of water or a low-lying area. By 1815, records confirm that members of the Kolkman family were well-established in the province of Friesland. This period was a significant time for naming conventions in the Netherlands, as the Napoleonic administration required citizens to formally register their surnames in the civil registry. The presence of the family in Friesland suggests they were part of the rural or agrarian society that defined the region during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kolk
A deep pool, pit, or whirlpool in a river or canal.
This name
KolkmanA person who lived near or worked at a deep pool or water pit.
also spelled
Kolkman
Kokman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2024
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van familienamen, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
