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Van Metre Coat of Arms

Van Meeteren Family

As registered at the National Genealogy Institute in the Netherlands.
Sent by Gerrit - Jan van Meeteren.

Cuyk Van Meteren Family 

Having seen the Van Meteren Coat of arms shown at left in  three different publications, I contacted Eddie Geoghegan through his Coat of Arms Web page. For a small fee he was kind enough to send me a color digital image of the coat of arms derived from his own research.  Shown lower left.

Cuyk Van Meteren Family

It is obvious that it is quite different.  I E-mailed Eddie to see if he could clear this up.  His reply follows: 

"Dear Scott,
My first reaction to the graphic you sent is that it is incorrectly drawn. My reasons for saying this are ...
1) The shield is recorded as "quarterly". That is to say that it is divided into four distinct segments. That being the case, the charges should not be shown as overlapping the quarters.
2) The birds are martlets and are define as "... always drawn without legs, with short tufts of feathers instead divided into two parts at the base and forming, as it were, thighs" (Burke's General Armory) and "Martlet -(mart'-let) A fanciful bird somewhat resembling a swallow, but having short tufts of feathers in the place of legs" (Pimbley's Dictionary or Heraldry).
Now, the version you sent me may be taken from some other source. My source was "Armorial General" J.B. Rietstap, 1884, Heraldry Today, Reprinted 1988.
This also has an accompanying set of volumes "Illustrations to the Armorial General", V. & H.V. Rolland, Heraldry Today, 1903/1926, Reprinted 1991. A scan from the latter is attached for your information."

 

 

Cuyk Van Meteren Family

At left is a Coat of Arms submitted by David Van Meter provided to him by The Historical Research Center. "verified, more than once, via other sources, as the most common and the most accurate version of the Van Meteren Family Crest" (David Van Meter)

 

Cuyk Van Meteren Family

At left is another Coat of Arms done by Julia with Fleur-de-lis Designs, as you can see its very similar to Eddie Geoghegan's. Its source was also Rietstap's Armorial General.  I believe the differences have more to do with artists interpretation than anything else. The description: "Arms: Quarterly, first and fourth, argent, a fleur-de-lis gules; second and third, or, two bars gules, accompanied by eight martlets sable arranged in orle.
Crest: The fleur-de-lis gules."

Village of Meteren, Holland

At left is a Coat of Arms for the village of Meteren in Holland.  I paid a company called the "Hall of Names" to do this.  I had asked them to do the Coat of Arms for the Van Metre family. When I requested a description and reference for this rendition I received no reply. It appears they don't know the difference between a Coat of Arms for a family and a town /village.

 

Westerouen van Meeteren Family

At left is the first Coat of Arms of the Westerouen van Meeteren family sent to me by Joost van Meeteren. Origin is unknown.

Westerouen van Meeteren Family

At left is the second Coat of Arms sent by Joost van Meetern for the Westerouen van Meeteren family. Origin is also unknown.

Coat of Arms below was sent by Greg Cox - Source unknown

So what the meaning of this Coat of Arms?

  • Quarterly - Represents the towns of Meteren and Cuijk.
  • first and fourth - town of Meteren .
  • argent (silver of white color) - Peace or Sincerity
  • Or (yellow or gold) - Generosity.
  • fleur-de-lis  - Purity; light; floral badge of France: represents sixth son as mark of difference.
  • bars - ?
  • second and third - ?
  • gules (red) - Warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity.
  • marlets (bird) - Symbol of fourth son, mark of difference; may signify one who has to subsist by virtue and merit, not inheritance.
  • Crest (that part above the shield) - The fleur-de-lis gules.  See above.

So which one is correct?

 

The material on the site is intended for free personal, non-commercial use. Commercial use of any of the materials presented on these pages is prohibited. Please do not consider any information on this site as a primary source, all data should be verified by you, the researcher. If you encounter any problems or have a question/correction, you can Email me at Scott Van Metre