A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Posthuma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9879 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 coupé: a. d'arg. à un cor-de-chasse de gu.; b. d'azur à un coeur d'or, percé de deux flèches du même en saut., les pointes en bas.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Posthuma arms are recorded
The Posthuma 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 Posthuma 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 Posthuma 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 Posthuma Family in Netherlands
The surname Posthuma originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, where it emerged as a distinct family name during the early nineteenth century. In 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered all citizens in the Netherlands to register permanent surnames for official government records. Many Frisian families chose names that described their occupation, their location, or their status in the community. The name Posthuma is derived from the Latin word "posthumus," which means born after the death of a father. This suggests that the first person to officially register the name likely held this status, or perhaps the name was adopted to honor a family member who passed away before their child was born. By 1815, families carrying this name were well-established in the Frisian countryside, where they participated in the local agricultural and maritime traditions that defined the region at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Post
A post, pillar, or stake used as a boundary marker.
This name
PosthumaA topographical name for someone who lived near a boundary marker or a gatepost.
also spelled
Postmah
Postmae
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1958
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811-1815
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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
