A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wassum family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7614 · Dutch, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois étoiles de sa., 2 et 1, abaissées sous deux cors-de-chasse du même en chef, eng. et pavillonnés d'azur, vir. et liés du champ. C.: une étoile de sa. L. d'or et de sa.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Wassum arms are recorded
The Wassum 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 Wassum 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 Wassum 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 Wassum Family in Netherlands
The Wassum family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Friesland, a province in the northern Netherlands known for its distinct culture and maritime traditions. By 1815, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, a time when the Netherlands was transitioning into a new kingdom following the Napoleonic Wars. The name likely evolved from local geographic markers or descriptive terms common to the Frisian language, which has historically remained separate from standard Dutch. During the early nineteenth century, families in this area often lived in close-knit agricultural or coastal communities where surnames became increasingly formalized for tax and census purposes. As the family navigated this era of political change, they contributed to the local development of the Frisian countryside, maintaining a presence that reflected the resilient spirit of the northern provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wassenaar
A settlement or place associated with water or a marshy area.
This name
WassumA topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a wet or swampy location.
also spelled
Wessume
Wessumh
Wessumm
Wessumeh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registration) records for Friesland, 1811–1815
H.T.J. Miedema, De dageraad van de Friese taal, 1979
G.H. Janssen, De geschiedenis van Friesland, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
