A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Proost family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7311 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une roue de moulin d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: la roue; entre un vol à l'antique, de gu. et d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Proost Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Proost arms are recorded
The Proost 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 Proost 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 Proost 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 Proost Family in Netherlands
The surname Proost finds its roots in the medieval administrative and religious structures of the Low Countries. The word itself is derived from the Latin term *praepositus*, which refers to a provost or a high-ranking official in charge of a cathedral chapter or a monastic community. In the early history of the Netherlands, individuals who held this title often served as leaders who managed church property and legal affairs. Over time, this professional title transitioned into a hereditary surname as families became associated with the duties and status of the office. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing the name Proost were well-established in the northern province of Friesland. These families were part of the social fabric of the region during a time of significant political transition as the Netherlands emerged as a unified kingdom. The name serves as a historical link to the influence of ecclesiastical administration on the development of Dutch family nomenclature.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 la fasce brét. et c.-brét. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles (8) du même. C.: un cerf iss. au nat. S.: deux vautours ess. au nat.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1612
Where the Proost Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Proost arms are recorded
The Proost arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1612.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1610–1617
Reigning in Netherlands when the Proost arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Proost Family in France
The surname Proost finds its roots in the historical region of Flanders, which straddled the border between modern-day France and Belgium. During the early seventeenth century, the name functioned as an occupational title derived from the term for a provost or a high-ranking administrative official. In the context of 1612, families bearing this name were often integrated into the local governance and legal structures of the Flemish territories. As these regions shifted between French and Spanish influence, the Proost family members were frequently recorded in parish registers and municipal documents related to land management and civic duties. This professional designation eventually transitioned into a hereditary surname as the family established deep roots within the social fabric of the northern French borderlands. By maintaining records of their presence in the early 1600s, historians can trace how the family moved from holding specific administrative roles to becoming a recognized lineage within the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Proost
Derived from the Latin praepositus meaning one placed in front or leader.
This name
ProostAn occupational surname for a provost, a high-ranking ecclesiastical or secular administrative official.
also spelled
Prost
Related arms
Rena (della) - Florencesimilar arms
van Langenhovesimilar arms
Prostvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum Tresoar. Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland, 1815
Van der Schaar, Jo. 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.
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
