A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertina family of Belgium.
Reg. 4912 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à l'arbre terrassé de sin.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois merlettes d'arg. A la croix éc. de sa. et d'arg., br. sur l'écartelé. C.: une merlette d'arg.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1779
Where the Bertina Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Bertina arms are recorded
The Bertina arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1779.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Belgium when the Bertina 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 Bertina Family in Belgium
The family name Bertina finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1779. During the late 18th century, Brabant was a bustling area characterized by a mix of agricultural traditions and growing urban centers. Families living in this region often derived their surnames from personal names or specific geographic markers, and the name Bertina likely evolved as a variation of the Germanic name Berthold or similar root names common in the Low Countries. As the family established themselves in this community, they were part of a society that relied heavily on parish registers and local administrative documents to track lineage and social standing. By the time the name appears in the late 1700s, the family was already integrated into the local social fabric, likely participating in the trade and farming activities that defined the economy of the Brabant duchy during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
A Germanic element meaning bright, famous, or illustrious.
This name
BertinaA feminine diminutive form signifying a bright, shining, or glorious individual.
also spelled
Bertine
Bertyna
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van Brabant (Parish Registers of Brabant)
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Brabant (Civil Registry of the province of Brabant)
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk (Dictionary of family names in Belgium and Northern France), 2003
Verkest, Luc, Geschiedenis van Brabant: Van het hertogdom tot de moderne tijd (History of Brabant: From the duchy to modern times), 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
