A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lan family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9620 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à cinq tilleuls de sin., rangés sur une terrasse du même; au 2 d'azur à trois trèfles d'or.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Lan Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Lan arms are recorded
The Lan 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 Lan 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 Lan 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 Lan Family in Netherlands
The family name Lan has deep roots in the northern region of Friesland, where records confirm members of the family were living by 1815. During this period, Friesland was a unique province within the Netherlands known for its distinct language and strong tradition of independent farming communities. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit villages where names were closely tied to the local landscape or specific ancestral trades. Because the region was frequently shaped by its proximity to the North Sea, the early Lan family likely navigated the challenges of living in a low-lying coastal environment that required constant cooperation with neighbors to maintain dikes and farmland. By the early nineteenth century, the family was part of a society that was transitioning through significant political changes, including the end of French rule and the establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. These early ancestors were likely hard-working individuals who helped define the local culture of the Frisian countryside during a time of great national growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Land
A defined territory, region, or piece of earth.
This name
LanA topographic name for someone who lived on or worked a specific piece of land.
also spelled
Lan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Wumkes, G.A., Stads- en dorpskroniek van Friesland, 1930
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
