Map of Netherlands showing where the Schmitz arms are recorded
The Schmitz 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 Schmitz 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 Schmitz 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 Schmitz Family in Netherlands
The surname Schmitz is a classic occupational name that originated from the German word for a blacksmith. As people began to adopt permanent family names during the Middle Ages, those who worked with metal were frequently identified by this title. While the name is deeply rooted in Germanic regions, it spread across borders through trade and migration. By the early nineteenth century, the family had established a presence in the northern province of Friesland. The year 1815 was a significant turning point for record-keeping in the Netherlands, as the government began to standardize civil registrations under the influence of the Napoleonic Code. Families living in Friesland at this time were required to formally register their surnames, which helps historians trace the movement of the Schmitz family as they settled into Dutch society and integrated into the local economy of the northern provinces.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un senestrochère, arm. de sa., la main de carn. tenant une flèche d'arg. en pal; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à l'aigle de sa., languée de gu. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1o l'aigle, cont.; l. d'arg. et de gu.; 2o trois pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg. et de sa.; l. d'arg. et de sa.”
Francec. 1788
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Schmitz arms are recorded
The Schmitz arms were recorded in France, c. 1788.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in Netherlands when the Schmitz 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 France.
Origin & History of the Schmitz Family in France
The surname Schmitz is traditionally associated with Germanic roots, but its presence in France reveals a fascinating history of migration and cultural integration. By 1788, members of the Schmitz family were already established in the region of Bretagne, a coastal area known for its distinct identity and historical ties to both Celtic and continental European traditions. During this period, families with this name often worked as skilled artisans or tradespeople, as the name itself is derived from the German word for a smith. As these individuals settled into French society, they navigated the complex social landscape of the late eighteenth century, a time marked by significant political change and shifting borders. Their presence in Bretagne suggests that the family was part of a broader movement of people crossing linguistic and regional boundaries to seek new opportunities in the French provinces. Over time, the family name became woven into the local fabric of the region, reflecting the diverse origins that have shaped the history of the French population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Smit
A person who works with metal or a blacksmith.
This name
SchmitzAn occupational surname denoting a descendant of a blacksmith.
also spelled
Schmits
Shmits
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
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
