A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mackey family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2598 · Dutch, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, ch. d'une tête de cerf au nat. et de deux avant-bras de carn., posés dans le sens du chev., tenant chacun un poignard d'arg., dirigé vers la tête de cerf; ledit chev. acc. de trois têtes d'ours coupées d'arg., emmuselées de gu. Brl. d'azur et d'arg. C.: un avant-bras de carn., en pal, tenant un poignard d'arg., en pal. L. d'arg. et d'azur. T.: deux chasseurs au nat., le fusil en pied. D.: MANU FORTI.”
GueldersGuelders, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Mackey arms are recorded
The Mackey arms were recorded in Guelders, c. 1815.
Guelders was river country in the east of the Netherlands, held by families whose estates sat along the water. Land there stayed in the same hands for generations, and long tenure is what fills a register of 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
Guelders
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Mackey 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 Mackey 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 Guelders.
Origin & History of the Mackey Family in Netherlands
The surname Mackey has deep roots that stretch across Northern Europe, with a significant presence documented in the region of Guelders by 1815. Historically, this area served as a crossroads for trade and migration between the Germanic lands and the Low Countries. Families living in Guelders during the early nineteenth century often navigated a landscape shaped by the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the shifting borders of the Dutch state. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the way communities identified individuals based on their occupations, personal traits, or ancestral origins. As these families settled into the region, they contributed to the local economy and social fabric, leaving behind records in parish registers and civil documents that trace their growth through the nineteenth century. By examining these early records, we can see how the Mackey name became established within the unique cultural environment of the Guelders province.
Mackey Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Aodha
Gaelic patronymic meaning son of Aodh, representing fire or light.
This name
MackeyA surname of Irish origin denoting the descendant of a person named Aodh.
also spelled
Mackey
Mackai
McKay
Mackie
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gelderland Archives, Burgerlijke Stand Gelderland (1815)
Hofstee, P., Geschiedenis van Gelderland (2005)
Van der Aa, A.J., Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden (1844)
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