A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Postma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9902 · 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 Postma arms are recorded
The Postma 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 Postma 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 Postma 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 Postma Family in Netherlands
The surname Postma originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, a region known for its unique language and distinct cultural traditions. In the Frisian language, the suffix "-ma" typically denotes a person belonging to a specific family or household, while the prefix "Post" is widely believed to be derived from the Frisian word for a post or a boundary marker. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Postma family likely lived near a significant landmark, a gate, or a fence that served as a property line. By the time of the national registration of surnames in 1811 and 1815, the name was already well-established among the rural farming communities of the Frisian countryside. These early family members were deeply connected to the land, often working as independent farmers or laborers within the tight-knit village structures that defined Frisian life during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Post
A post, pillar, or gatekeeper stationed at a specific location.
This name
PostmaRefers to someone who lived near a prominent post or served as a gatekeeper.
also spelled
Postmah
Postmae
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 (1811–1950)
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: een overzicht van hun ontstaan en verspreiding (1988)
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
