Map of Netherlands showing where the Korte arms are recorded
The Korte 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 Korte 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 Korte 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 Korte Family in Netherlands
The surname Korte is a descriptive name that originated in the Low Countries, specifically within the regions of the Netherlands and Northern Germany. In the Dutch language, the word "kort" translates to "short," suggesting that the name was likely a nickname given to an individual of small stature or someone with a concise way of speaking. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the province of Friesland. During this period, the Napoleonic administration required citizens to register permanent surnames for civil records, which helped solidify the Korte name as a formal family identifier. These early ancestors in Friesland were often part of the agrarian or maritime communities that defined the coastal landscape of the region. Over time, the name spread from these northern provinces into broader Dutch society, maintaining its roots as a simple yet distinct identifier of a person's physical or personality traits.
Korte Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
kurt
Middle Dutch word meaning short or brief.
This name
KorteA descriptive nickname originally given to a person of short stature.
also spelled
Kort
Kortee
Related arms
Coortevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen en familienamen in Nederland, 1964
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand 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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
