Map of Netherlands showing where the Meece arms are recorded
The Meece arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Meece 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 Meece 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Meece Family in Netherlands
The family name Meece carries a rich history that is deeply rooted in the northern regions of the Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Friesland. During this period, Friesland was a landscape defined by its unique Frisian language and a strong tradition of maritime and agricultural trade. Families living in this area often adopted surnames that reflected their local geography or their specific ancestral occupations. As the Meece name became more prominent in the region around 1815, the family likely participated in the local community life that defined the Dutch coastal provinces. Over time, the name traveled beyond these northern borders as family members sought new opportunities, eventually spreading the lineage across different regions and countries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomeus
Son of Talmai, meaning abounding in furrows or rich in land.
This name
MeeceA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Bartholomew.
also spelled
Meze
Meese
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
