A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Showers family of Netherlands.
Reg. 1004 · Dutch, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à trois herses de labour triangulaires de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois pals de sa., retraits en chef. Sur le tout d'arg. au chev. de gu. C.: une herse du 1, entre un vol à l'antique, d'or et d'arg. [Armes du vice-amiral Isaac Sweers, tué dans la bataille navale de Kijkduin, le 21 août 1673.]”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Showers arms are recorded
The Showers 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 Showers 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 Showers 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 Showers Family in Netherlands
The family name Showers carries a history deeply rooted in the coastal regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established residents in this area, living through a time of significant political change as the region transitioned into the newly formed Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815. The name likely evolved from local linguistic roots, as surnames in Northern Europe often originated from descriptions of a person’s occupation, a specific physical trait, or the landscape where they lived. Because Friesland has a unique cultural and linguistic identity distinct from the rest of the country, families living there during this era were often deeply connected to the maritime and agricultural traditions of the North Sea coast. Over time, as families moved for work or trade, the name traveled across borders, eventually becoming more common in English-speaking countries while maintaining its connection to these early Dutch origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schuur
A barn or storage shed for agricultural produce.
This name
ShowersAn occupational name for someone who worked in or lived near a barn.
also spelled
Swers
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Dijkstra, F., Friese familienamen, 1999
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database), 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
