A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Reitmeier family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6544 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 coupé: a. d'azur à un mont d'arg., mouv. du coupé; b. d'or à deux demi-ramures de cerf de gu.; au 2 d'or à la croix de sa., cant. de quatre fleurs-de-lis du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Reitmeier arms are recorded
The Reitmeier 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 Reitmeier 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 Reitmeier 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 Reitmeier Family in Netherlands
The surname Reitmeier originates from the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational name. The name is composed of two parts: "Reit," which often refers to cleared land or a meadow, and "meier," a term for a steward or a tenant farmer who managed land for a landlord. By the early 19th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Friesland. In 1815, this area underwent significant political changes as it became part of the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands following the Napoleonic Wars. During this period, the implementation of the Civil Registry required families to formally record their surnames for tax and military purposes. This transition solidified the spelling of the name as it appears in official government documents from that era, marking a shift from local oral tradition to permanent written record-keeping for the family.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Reit-meier
A marshland or reed bed steward or overseer.
This name
ReitmeierAn occupational surname for a person who managed or lived near a reed-filled wetland.
also spelled
Rietmer
Riedmeer
Reetmeer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry) records for the province of Friesland, 1811–1815
Fokko, J. Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van hun oorsprong en verspreiding. 1998
Van der Meer, G. De geschiedenis van de Friese landbouw en haar bevolking. 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
