A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Koul family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7198 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
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'azur à la fasce échiq. d'arg. et de sa. Brl. d'arg. et de sa. C.: deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et d'azur, ch. chacune sur la ligne de division d'une fasce éc. d'arg. et de sa.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Koul Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Koul arms are recorded
The Koul 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 Koul 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 Koul 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 Koul Family in Netherlands
The family name Koul traces its historical roots to the northern region of Friesland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1815. During this period, Friesland was experiencing significant changes in how citizens registered their identities, particularly following the implementation of the civil registry under French administration. The name likely emerged as a localized surname, reflecting the linguistic traditions of the Frisian people who often used short, descriptive terms to distinguish families within their tight-knit communities. As these families settled into agricultural or maritime life in the coastal provinces, the name became a permanent marker of their lineage. By the early nineteenth century, the Koul family was firmly established within the local social structure, contributing to the development of the region through their participation in the trades and communal life of the Dutch provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kool
A Middle Dutch term referring to cabbage or kale.
This name
KoulAn occupational name for a grower or seller of cabbage.
also spelled
Koule
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Friesland
Tresoar, Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
