Map of Netherlands showing where the Wax arms are recorded
The Wax 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 Wax 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 Wax 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 Wax Family in Netherlands
The surname Wax is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Frisian region, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1815. In the context of Northern European naming traditions, the name likely originated as a descriptive occupational or topographical identifier. During the early nineteenth century, the Netherlands underwent significant social changes, including the formalization of civil registration under Napoleonic influence. This period required families to adopt permanent surnames, often drawing from local dialects or trade practices. Given the geography of Friesland, which is defined by its proximity to the North Sea and its unique linguistic heritage, the name may have evolved from local terms related to the natural environment or the processing of raw materials. By the time these official records were solidified in 1815, the Wax family was already an integrated part of the Frisian community, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that characterized the province during that era.
Wax Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Wachs
Germanic term referring to the substance produced by bees.
This name
WaxAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of candles or wax products.
also spelled
Waexs
Waexen
Waexse
Waks
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland), 1811–1950
Dijkstra, W., Friesch Woordenboek, 1900
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1959
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
