Map of Netherlands showing where the Piel arms are recorded
The Piel 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 Piel 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 Piel 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 Piel Family in Netherlands
The family name Piel has deep roots in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly within the region of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the Piel family were firmly established in this area, living as part of the local Frisian community. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer personal name, which was a common practice in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. As the family grew, they integrated into the social and economic life of the Dutch countryside, often working in trades or agriculture that defined the Frisian landscape. Because Friesland maintained a unique cultural and linguistic identity, the Piel family would have navigated the transition from traditional naming customs to the more standardized civil registration systems that became mandatory in the Netherlands under Napoleonic rule in 1811. This shift helped solidify the name as a permanent family identifier, marking the start of a documented lineage that has persisted through generations of Dutch history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois flèches d'or, posées en fasces, l'une sur l'autre. Cq. cour., le cercle de la couronne d'azur, ch. de deux pals d'or. C.: un vol de gu., l'aile dextre ch. d'une fasce d'or surch. de deux pals d'azur, l'aile sen. ch. d'une fasce d'azur surch. de deux pals d'or.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Piel arms are recorded
The Piel arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Netherlands when the Piel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Piel Family in Germany
The surname Piel has deep roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where families bearing this name were well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name likely originated as a short form or a nickname derived from older Germanic personal names, such as those beginning with the element "Pilo." In the rural society of Westphalia during the 1760s, families were often tied closely to the land and local parish communities. Records from this era show that the Piel family was part of the agrarian structure that defined the region, with members often working as farmers or skilled laborers in small village settings. As the population grew, the name spread through local church records, which tracked births, marriages, and deaths within the community. These early generations lived through a time of significant social change in Prussia, yet they maintained a consistent presence in the Westphalian landscape for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Petrus
A Greek name meaning stone or rock.
This name
PielA patronymic or diminutive form derived from Peter, signifying a descendant of Peter.
also spelled
Pyel
Piele
Pielh
Peel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) records for Friesland, 1811–1950
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregisters (Population Registers) of the Netherlands
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
