A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arel family of Belgium.
Reg. 5609 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur au lion d'or, tenant de sa patte dextre une masse d'armes du même, posée en barre; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle iss. de sa. Brl. de sa. et d'or. C.: le lion, iss., devant un vol à l'antique d'azur.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Arel Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Arel arms are recorded
The Arel arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Arel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Brabant.
Origin & History of the Arel Family in Belgium
The family name Arel traces its roots to the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1737. During this period, Brabant was a bustling center of trade and agriculture located within the Southern Netherlands. Families living in this area often took names derived from their specific local geography or the small villages they called home. The name Arel likely emerged as a way to identify individuals based on their connection to the land or a particular settlement in the region. As the family moved and grew, they remained part of the vibrant social fabric of the Low Countries, participating in the daily life and local traditions that defined eighteenth-century European society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ara
Latin term referring to an altar or a place of sacrifice.
This name
ArelDerived from a topographic location near an altar or a religious sanctuary.
also spelled
Arele
Arell
Are
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Parochieregisters van de provincie Brabant
Fruin, Robert, Geschiedenis der Staatsinstellingen in Nederland tot den val der Republiek, 1901
Wauters, Alphonse, Histoire des environs de Bruxelles, 1855
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
