A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Louw family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7985 · Dutch, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un fer-de-moulin de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Louw Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Louw arms are recorded
The Louw 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 Louw 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 Louw 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 Louw Family in Netherlands
The family name Louw has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, the name was well-established in this area, reflecting a history tied to the unique linguistic and cultural traditions of the Frisian people. The name itself is often considered a shortened or variant form of names like Lodewijk, which carries the meaning of a famous warrior. Families bearing this name in 1815 were likely part of the local agrarian or artisan classes that shaped the rural landscape of the region. As the Napoleonic era came to a close, the formal registration of surnames became more strictly enforced in the Netherlands, helping to solidify the identity of the Louw family in official government records. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant political change as the country transitioned into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, marking the start of a documented family legacy that has persisted for over two centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ludovicus
Derived from Germanic elements meaning famous warrior or renowned fighter.
This name
LouwA Dutch patronymic surname originating from a short form of the name Louis.
also spelled
Lauw
Lou
Low
Related arms
Lauwvariant spelling
Löwvariant spelling
Lowevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) records for Friesland, 1811–1950
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand, 1811–1842
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
