A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rhee family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5190 · Dutch, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
dieFortune met with a steady hand
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à un cerf élancé de gu.; au 2 d'or à deux serpents entrelacés de sa., acc. de trois dés au nat.; au 3 de gu. à une sirène de carn., sans queue, tenant un miroir et un peigne; au 4 d'arg. à un pont de sin. jeté sur une rivière, et au chef d'azur.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Rhee arms are recorded
The Rhee 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 Rhee 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 Rhee 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 Rhee Family in Netherlands
The family name Rhee has deep roots in the northern region of the Netherlands known as Friesland. By the year 1815, families bearing this name were well established in the local community. The name itself is likely topographic, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific geographical feature, such as a stream or a bank. In the Frisian language, similar terms often referred to the edges of water or land boundaries. As the family grew, they became part of the agricultural and social fabric of the province. Their presence in official records from the early nineteenth century shows that they were active participants in the administrative changes occurring in the Netherlands during that era. By tracing these early generations, we can see how the family name became a permanent part of the regional identity in Friesland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rhee
Derived from the Middle Dutch word ree meaning a stream or brook.
This name
RheeA topographic name for someone who lived near a small river or stream.
also spelled
Rhee
Rheeh
van Ray
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 (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Winkler, Johan, De Nederlandsche geslachtsnamen in oorsprong, geschiedenis en beteekenis, 1885
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
dieFortune met with a steady hand
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
dieFortune met with a steady hand
bridgeOne who joins what was divided
