Map of Belgium showing where the Bolen arms are recorded
The Bolen 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 Bolen 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 Bolen Family in Belgium
The family name Bolen has deep roots in the region of Brabant, a historical territory that once spanned parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By 1737, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this area, living during a time when the region was under the control of the Austrian Habsburgs. The name itself likely evolved from older Germanic or Dutch roots, often serving as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a specific landmark or held a particular occupation. During the eighteenth century, families in Brabant were frequently involved in local agriculture or trade, which allowed them to become integrated into the social fabric of their growing towns. As the family moved through these rural and urban landscapes, they helped shape the local community, leaving behind a legacy that is tied to the rich cultural history of the Low Countries.
Bolen Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bolo
A Germanic term referring to a brother or a close kinsman.
This name
BolenA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of names starting with the element meaning brother.
also spelled
Bollin
Bollenn
Bollenh
Bolen
Bolin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
P.J. Blok, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche volk, 1923
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van Brabant
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
