A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Werts family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2053 · Dutch, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la bande d'azur, ch. de trois ancres d'or, posées chacune en pal. Brl. de gu. et d'azur. C.: une ancre d'or, entre un vol, de gu. et d'azur.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Werts arms are recorded
The Werts 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 Werts 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 Werts 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 Werts Family in Netherlands
The family name Werts is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Netherlands, particularly within the northern province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, a time when the Netherlands was transitioning into a modern kingdom following the Napoleonic era. The name itself is likely a variation of older Germanic or Frisian naming patterns, which often evolved from descriptive nicknames or locations where a family lived. In the tight-knit communities of Friesland, families were often identified by their trade or their connection to the land, and the Werts name likely emerged as a way to distinguish specific lineages during a period when official civil registration became mandatory. As the family navigated the social and economic changes of the 1800s, they remained part of the distinct cultural fabric of the Frisian people, who have long maintained a strong sense of regional identity and linguistic heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wert
A variant of the Germanic word for a river island or meadow.
This name
WertsDerived from a topographic location near a riverbank, island, or water meadow.
also spelled
Weertz
Werts
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
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2023
Hofstra, T., Oostfriesland en Friesland: Een historische vergelijking, 2005
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