Map of Netherlands showing where the Vandergrift arms are recorded
The Vandergrift arms were recorded in Leyde, c. 1815.
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
Leyde
Town
Leyde
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Vandergrift 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 Vandergrift 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 Vandergrift Family in Netherlands
The surname Vandergrift originates from the Netherlands and translates literally to mean "from the canal" or "from the ditch." This descriptive name likely identified early ancestors by their proximity to a specific waterway or their occupation in maintaining local irrigation systems. By 1815, records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of Leiden, a historic academic and industrial hub in the province of South Holland. During this period, the family was integrated into the urban fabric of the city, which was recovering from the Napoleonic era and transitioning into a new century of trade and manufacturing. As the family grew, they carried this geographic identifier forward, eventually spreading the name beyond the Dutch borders as individuals sought new opportunities in international commerce and migration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Van der Grift
From the small canal or ditch.
This name
VandergriftRefers to a person who lived near or worked on a small waterway.
also spelled
Vandergracht
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gemeentearchief Leiden (Leiden Municipal Archives), Bevolkingsregister van Leiden (Population Register of Leiden), 1815
P.J. Blok, Geschiedenis eener Hollandsche stad: Eene bijdrage tot de kennis van de middeleeuwsche toestanden in de Nederlanden, 1910
Leendert Brouwer, Nederlandse Familienamen Databank (Dutch Surname Database), 2000
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
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
