A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Reitsma family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5175 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 coupé: a. d'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'arg., mouv. du coupé, surm. d'un croiss. figuré versé du même; b. d'arg. à trois trèfles mal-ordonnés de sin. C.: un trèfle de sin.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Reitsma arms are recorded
The Reitsma 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 Reitsma 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 Reitsma 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 Reitsma Family in Netherlands
The surname Reitsma originates from the northern Dutch province of Friesland, a region known for its unique language and distinct cultural traditions. The suffix "-ma" is a classic Frisian naming convention that indicates a person is a member of a specific family or household. Historically, families in this area often adopted surnames based on their ancestral farmsteads or the personal names of their forefathers. In the case of Reitsma, the name is likely derived from the personal name Reit or Reitze. By 1815, when the Dutch government mandated the formal registration of surnames for tax and census purposes, the Reitsma family was already well-established within the Frisian landscape. These early ancestors were typically part of the agrarian society that defined the province, living and working on the flat, fertile lands near the coast. Their presence in the official records of the early nineteenth century reflects a long history of deep roots in the local community and a strong connection to their Frisian heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Reit
A variant of the Germanic word for clearing or cultivated land.
This name
ReitsmaA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone from a cleared area.
also spelled
Reitsma
Raytsma
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
Hacker, J.H., Friese familienamen, 1989
Meer, G. van der, De Friese familienamen in de 19e eeuw, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
