Map of Netherlands showing where the Schoon arms are recorded
The Schoon 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 Schoon 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 Schoon 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 Schoon Family in Netherlands
The surname Schoon originates from the Low German and Dutch word meaning beautiful, clean, or pure. In the context of early family history, the name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who was known for their tidy appearance or perhaps their moral character. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. Records from 1815 confirm that members of the Schoon family were active in this region during a time of significant administrative change, as the Netherlands transitioned into a kingdom following the Napoleonic era. This period required families to formally register their surnames with civil authorities, which helped solidify the name as a permanent family identifier. The family likely lived as farmers or tradespeople, contributing to the local economy and community life that defined the Frisian landscape during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
skoniz
Proto-Germanic term meaning beautiful, bright, or attractive.
This name
SchoonRefers to a person who was considered handsome, beautiful, or lived in a clean, pleasant place.
also spelled
Schon
Schoone
Schone
Skoon
Shoon
Related arms
Schönvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2024
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland, 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van familienamen, 1992
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
