A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Basen family of Belgium.
Reg. 9171 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 fer de moulin d'arg.; au chef d'or, ch. d'un chicot au nat., en pal, entre deux écureuils affr., au nat., croquant une noix. C.: l'écureuil de sen. L. de gu. et d'or.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1845
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Map of Belgium showing where the Basen arms are recorded
The Basen arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1845.
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.
Leopold I of Belgium
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I of Belgium
1831–1865
Reigning in Belgium when the Basen 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 Basen Family in Belgium
The family name Basen has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By the middle of the nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. During the 1840s, Brabant was a center of significant agricultural and industrial change, and families like the Basens were often involved in the local trade and farming communities that defined the region. The name likely evolved from regional dialects common to the Low Countries, where surnames were often shaped by a person’s occupation, a specific physical trait, or the name of a local village. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Brabant, contributing to the local economy and the development of their communities during a time of great transition in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Basilius
Derived from the Greek word for king or royal.
This name
BasenA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Bas or a variant of Sebastian.
also spelled
Baesene
Baesenn
Basen
Bason
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Civil Registration Records (Burgerlijke Stand), Brabant Province, 1845
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
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
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
squirrelPatience and foresight in gathering
