A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Speers family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5875 · Dutch, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à trois flèches ailées d'arg., en fasces, l'une sur l'autre; au 2 de gu. à trois bustes accostés d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Speers Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Speers arms are recorded
The Speers 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 Speers 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 Speers 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 Speers Family in Netherlands
The surname Speers is deeply rooted in the history of the Low Countries, with significant records placing the family in the province of Friesland by the early 19th century. The name is generally considered to be occupational or descriptive in origin, likely referring to someone who worked as a spear maker or a soldier skilled in the use of a spear. During the Napoleonic era, particularly around 1815, the region of Friesland underwent major social changes as the Netherlands transitioned into a unified kingdom. Families like the Speers were often part of the agrarian and artisan classes that defined the local economy of the northern provinces. As the family settled into these communities, they became part of the long-standing Frisian tradition of maintaining strong local identities and distinct family lineages that have persisted for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Speer
A pointed weapon used for hunting or warfare.
This name
SpeersAn occupational surname for a maker or user of spears.
also spelled
Spears
Speers
Speirs
Spear
Spires
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
Hofstra, T., Geschiedenis van Friesland 1750-1995, 1998
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van de herkomst en verspreiding, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
