Map of Netherlands showing where the Matthys arms are recorded
The Matthys 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 Matthys 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 Matthys 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 Matthys Family in Netherlands
The name Matthys originates as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a variation of the name Matthias, which has deep roots in biblical history and eventually spread across Europe. By the early nineteenth century, families carrying the Matthys name were well-established in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social and administrative changes following the end of French rule and the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Matthys clan were often involved in the agricultural and maritime trades that defined Frisian life. Because Friesland maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, the name was preserved through generations as these families integrated into the local community and contributed to the development of their rural villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Matityahu
Gift of Yahweh
This name
MatthysA Dutch patronymic surname derived from the biblical name Matthew meaning gift of God.
also spelled
Mathys
Mathis
Related arms
Mathysvariant spelling
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)
Hofstra, T., Friesland in de negentiende eeuw (Friesland in the nineteenth century), 1998
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen (Frisian family names), 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
