Map of Netherlands showing where the Ream arms are recorded
The Ream 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 Ream 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 Ream 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 Ream Family in Netherlands
The history of the Ream family in the Netherlands is deeply connected to the northern province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that family members were established residents in this region. The name likely evolved from local linguistic roots, as Frisian naming traditions often shifted during this period to align with standardized Dutch civil registration laws. During the Napoleonic era, specifically around 1811 and 1812, the French administration required all citizens to adopt permanent surnames. Families in Friesland often chose names that reflected their occupation, their father’s given name, or their specific geographic origin. As the Ream family integrated into the administrative systems of the time, they became part of the distinct cultural fabric of the Frisian countryside, where they lived as farmers and tradespeople. Their presence in the 1815 records marks a pivotal moment when the family became officially documented within the modern Dutch state.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un membre d'aigle d'arg., surmontant un croiss. du même. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'azur entre deux d'or.”
Swedenc. 1625
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Map of Sweden showing where the Ream arms are recorded
The Ream arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1625.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
1611–1632
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ream arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Ream Family in Sweden
The history of the Ream family in Sweden is rooted in the bustling urban environment of Stockholm during the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents of the capital by 1625, a time when the city was rapidly expanding as a center of trade and royal administration. During this period, Stockholm was undergoing significant transformation under the rule of King Gustavus Adolphus, and families like the Reams were often integrated into the city’s growing merchant and professional classes. The name itself reflects the linguistic shifts occurring in Northern Europe at the time, as families navigated the transition between traditional naming customs and the formalization of surnames. By settling in Stockholm during this era, the early Reams became part of a vibrant social fabric that connected Sweden to the broader economic networks of the Baltic region. Their presence in the city archives during the 1620s highlights a long-standing legacy of urban life and civic participation that helped shape the family’s identity in the centuries that followed.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a chev. erm. betw. three rams' heads cabossed ar”
EssexHornchurch · Essex, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Ream arms are recorded
The Ream arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ream arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Essex.
Origin & History of the Ream Family in England
The history of the Ream family in England is deeply rooted in the social and economic landscape of the seventeenth century. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Essex, a region known for its thriving agricultural communities and proximity to the bustling trade networks of London. During this period, the name likely functioned as a topographical identifier or a descriptive label for individuals living near specific landmarks or working in particular trades. As the family settled into the local parish systems, they became part of the fabric of English rural life, participating in the religious and civic duties that defined the era. Their presence in Essex suggests they were part of the steady migration and settlement patterns that characterized the English countryside before the significant waves of emigration to the American colonies. This early history reflects a life defined by local ties, land cultivation, and the gradual development of family identity within the English administrative framework.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Riem
A strap, belt, or leather thong used for binding.
This name
ReamAn occupational name for a maker or seller of leather straps or belts.
also spelled
Raam
Ramm
Ramme
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
Huizinga, Frans, Stammen en Namen in Friesland, 1948
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
legStrength and swiftness
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ramLeadership and authority
