A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Koning family of Netherlands.
knightChivalry and service in armsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un roi des échecs d'or.”
The Koning arms were recorded in Amsterdam, 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Koning arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Koning is a classic example of a descriptive occupational or status-based name originating from the Dutch word for king. In the medieval period, such names were often given to people who played the role of a king in local festivals, or they served as nicknames for individuals who carried themselves with a regal or authoritative air. By the time your ancestors were documented in Amsterdam in 1815, the name was already well-established throughout the Netherlands as a common identifier for families living in urban centers. During the early nineteenth century, Amsterdam was a bustling hub of trade and industry, and families like the Konings were often part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the city’s character. Because the name was relatively common, it reflects the diverse social landscape of the Dutch capital, where families moved through the city streets to build their lives during a time of significant political and economic change in Europe.
Proto-Germanic term for a tribal leader or king.
