Map of Netherlands showing where the Polen arms are recorded
The Polen 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 Polen 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 Polen 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 Polen Family in Netherlands
The surname Polen is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Netherlands, specifically within the northern province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this region, a time when the Napoleonic administration required citizens to formally register their surnames for the first time. The name itself likely functions as a locative descriptor, historically used to identify individuals who lived near or originated from a specific piece of land or a geographical feature known as a "pol." In the Frisian dialect and surrounding Low German influences, such names often evolved from descriptions of the local terrain or small settlements. As the family grew during the 1800s, they became part of the distinct social fabric of Friesland, contributing to the agricultural and maritime traditions that defined the province during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pol
A shortened form of the name Paulus meaning small or humble.
This name
PolenA topographic name referring to someone who lived near a pool or marshy area.
also spelled
Polen
Polene
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Huizinga, A., Encyclopedie van namen, 1955
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
