A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wigman family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9502 · Dutch, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 coupé: a. d'azur à une étoile d'or; b. de gu. à trois trèfles d'or. C.: une étoile d'or.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Wigman Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Wigman arms are recorded
The Wigman arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Wigman 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 Wigman 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Wigman Family in Netherlands
The surname Wigman finds its roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, specifically within the province of Friesland. The name is likely patronymic in origin, meaning it was originally formed by combining a personal name with a suffix indicating descent. In the Frisian language, names ending in "man" often denoted a person who lived in a specific area or served a particular master. By 1815, when the Dutch government began formalizing civil registries, the Wigman family was firmly established in the Frisian landscape. During this era, families in the region were transitioning from traditional naming customs to fixed surnames to satisfy new administrative requirements. This period of record-keeping confirms that the Wigmans were active members of their local communities, likely working in agriculture or trade, which were the primary ways of life in the Frisian countryside at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wig
Derived from the Germanic element wig meaning war or battle.
This name
WigmanA topographic or occupational name referring to a warrior or a person from a battle site.
also spelled
Wigman
Wygmana
Wigmanah
Veegmana
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Huizinga, Frans, Stamboomonderzoek in Friesland, 1998
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: een overzicht van hun oorsprong en verspreiding, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
