A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the van Reenen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2606 · Dutch, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de sa. à un griffon naiss. d'or, lamp. de gu., mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'azur à une colombe volante en bande d'arg.; l'azur chapé-ployé d'or, à deux caducées d'azur, 1 à dextre et 1 à sen. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut. d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur. S.: deux griffons reg. d'or, lamp. de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the van Reenen arms are recorded
The van Reenen 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 van Reenen 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 van Reenen 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 van Reenen Family in Netherlands
The family name van Reenen finds its historical roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were established residents in this area. The name itself follows a common Dutch naming pattern, as the prefix "van" indicates that the family originally hailed from a place called Reenen. While the name is now associated with various regions, its presence in Friesland during the Napoleonic era highlights the family's deep connection to the social and administrative shifts occurring in the Netherlands at that time. As the family grew and moved, they carried this geographic identifier with them, preserving their connection to their ancestral origins through their surname.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Renatus
Latin for born again or reborn.
This name
van ReenenRefers to someone originating from the town of Rhenen in the Netherlands.
also spelled
Reenen
Reenenh
Renen
van Renen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Friesland (Civil Registration of the Province of Friesland)
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland (Population Registers of the Province of Friesland)
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (2010)
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van de Friese familienamen en hun herkomst (1998)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
