A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beelen family of Belgium.
Reg. 4265 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. au rencontre de buffle de sa., accorné et bouclé d'or, acc. de trois oiseaux du sec., perchés sur les cornes et sur le crâne.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Beelen Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Beelen arms are recorded
The Beelen arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
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 Beelen 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 Belgium.
Origin & History of the Beelen Family in Belgium
The family name Beelen finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, where members of the family were firmly established by at least 1737. The name is considered a topographical surname, which means it was likely derived from a specific location or landscape feature where the earliest ancestors lived. In the Dutch language, the term "beel" or "beele" historically referred to a small stream or a piece of land situated near water. As people began to adopt permanent surnames during the late Middle Ages and early modern period, families were often identified by the geography of their homesteads. By the time the family appeared in official records in the eighteenth century, they were part of a long-standing tradition of rural life in the Low Countries, where their identity remained closely tied to the fertile, water-rich terrain of the Brabant countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bie
A Middle Dutch term referring to a bee.
This name
BeelenA topographic name for someone who lived near a place where bees were kept or honey produced.
also spelled
Belen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Leys, O. De familienamen in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden. 1970
Rijksarchief in België (State Archives of Belgium), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bullValour and generosity
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bullValour and generosity
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
