Map of Netherlands showing where the Martz arms are recorded
The Martz 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 Martz 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 Martz 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 Martz Family in Netherlands
The surname Martz has roots that connect to the cultural history of the Low Countries, specifically within the northern region of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this coastal area, which was known for its unique language and strong tradition of local autonomy. The name itself is often linked to the personal name Martin, which was a very popular choice throughout Europe due to the influence of Saint Martin of Tours. Over time, the name evolved through local dialects as families moved from using simple first names to adopting permanent surnames for tax and legal purposes. By 1815, when the modern kingdom of the Netherlands was formed, the Martz family was part of a society that was transitioning into a more structured national system of record-keeping. This period required families to officially register their names, which helped solidify the spelling and identity of the Martz line within the Frisian community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Martinus
Derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.
This name
MartzA patronymic surname originating from a short form of the name Martin.
also spelled
Marits
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2023
Huizinga, Frans, Stammen en Namen in Friesland (Tribes and Names in Friesland), 1998
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