A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ras family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8612 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 coupé: a. d'arg. à trois têtes de lion de gu., lamp. d'azur: b. de gu. à trois hures de sanglier d'or; au 2 de gu. au lion d'arg. C.: un lion iss. de gu., arm. et lamp. d'azur.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Ras arms are recorded
The Ras 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 Ras 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 Ras 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 Ras Family in Netherlands
The family name Ras has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in Frisian communities. The name itself is thought to be a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle Dutch word "ras," which meant quick, active, or swift. In the social context of the time, such names were often given to individuals known for their speed or energetic nature. As the family moved through the 1800s, they became part of the local fabric of Dutch society, participating in the agricultural and maritime traditions that defined the Frisian landscape. Because the Netherlands did not mandate fixed surnames for everyone until the Napoleonic era, the formal registration of the Ras name in 1815 marks a significant moment when these families officially solidified their identity within the national civil registry.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. à deux chev. de sa.; au chef de gu., ch. de trois molettes d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1704
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Map of France showing where the Ras arms are recorded
The Ras arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1704.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ras 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Ras Family in France
The history of the Ras family in France is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Lorraine region. By the early 18th century, the family had established a presence in this area, which was then a crossroads of cultural and political change. During this period, Lorraine was a duchy that maintained a distinct identity before its eventual integration into the French kingdom. Families living in this region often experienced the pressures of shifting borders and the influence of both French and Germanic traditions. The name itself likely emerged from local linguistic roots, reflecting the common practice of identifying individuals by their trade, physical traits, or place of origin within their specific village communities. As the family settled in Lorraine by 1704, they became part of the agricultural and social fabric of a territory known for its resilience and complex administrative history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erasmus
Derived from the Greek word meaning to love or to desire.
This name
RasA shortened form of a given name used as a patronymic or descriptive surname.
also spelled
Raz
Rass
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen en familienamen in Nederland, 1964
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
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.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
