A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Snively family of Netherlands.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à un banc à trois pieds de”
The Snively 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Snively arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Snively is an anglicized version of the name Schnebele, which originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. The name is rooted in the Middle High German word "schnabel," meaning beak, and it was likely used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a prominent nose. By the early 19th century, branches of the family had established themselves in the northern province of Friesland. Records from 1815 show that these individuals were integrated into the local Dutch administrative systems during a period of significant political transition following the Napoleonic Wars. As the family moved across borders, the spelling shifted to better suit the phonetic patterns of English and Dutch speakers, eventually settling into the form recognized today. This migration reflects the broader movement of families across Northern Europe during the 1800s as people sought new opportunities in changing economic landscapes.
Germanic term referring to a person who cuts or harvests wind.
