A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abelin family of France.
Reg. 7894 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au cerf naiss. au nat.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1459
Where the Abelin Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Abelin arms are recorded
The Abelin arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1459.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Charles VII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII of France
1422–1461
Reigning in France when the Abelin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the Abelin Family in France
The family name Abelin has deep roots in the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1459. During this period, the name likely functioned as a patronymic, which means it was derived from a given name to identify a person as the son or descendant of an ancestor named Abel. In the fifteenth century, Flanders was a thriving center for trade and textile production, making it a place where families often settled in urban hubs to participate in the growing merchant economy. As the family moved through the Low Countries, they became part of the complex social fabric of the region, living through a time of significant cultural transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. While the name remained tied to its Flemish origins, the movement of people across European borders during this era suggests that the family was part of a broader network of individuals who helped shape the local administration and economic life of their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abel
Derived from the Hebrew word for breath or vapor.
This name
AbelinA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of someone named Abel.
also spelled
Abelyn
Abellin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Smet, J. J., Recueil des chroniques de Flandre, 1837
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te Gent), Registers van de Raad van Vlaanderen, 1459
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
