A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mes family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6951 · Dutch, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à deux bars adossés d'azur; au 2 échiq. de gu. et d'arg.; au 3 parti-émanché de sa. et d'arg.; au 4 de sa. à trois têtes de lion d'arg., lamp. de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Mes arms are recorded
The Mes 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 Mes 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 Mes 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 Mes Family in Netherlands
The surname Mes has deep roots in the northern Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, the family was well-established in this region, which was a time of significant transition as the Netherlands moved from French occupation to the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name itself is likely a short, descriptive form of a longer name or a nickname that evolved into a permanent family identifier. In the Frisian context, surnames were often adopted or formalized during the Napoleonic period when civil registration became mandatory. Families like the Mes line were part of the local social fabric, often working in trades or agriculture that supported the unique maritime and rural economy of the Frisian landscape. Over generations, the name became a marker of their specific regional identity and their long-standing connection to the northern Dutch provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomeus
Aramaic for son of Talmai meaning abounding in furrows.
This name
MesA patronymic surname derived as a shortened form of the given name Bartholomeus.
also spelled
Mez
Mess
Related arms
Blauwveltrecorded with Mes, same area
de Jonghrecorded with Mes, same area
Druyfrecorded with Mes, same area
Fockamarecorded with Mes, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar: Frysk Histoarysk en Letterkundich Sintrum, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Netherlands National Archives (Nationaal Archief), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
