A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boudewyns family of Belgium.
Reg. 2552 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de sa. au lion d'arg.; à la bord. engr. du même; au 2 de gu. au croiss d'arg., acc. d'une étoile de sin. en chef et une rose d'arg. en p.; au 3 de gu. à trois châteaux d'arg.; à la bord. comp. d'azur et d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. à trois roses de gu.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Boudewyns Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Boudewyns arms are recorded
The Boudewyns 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 Boudewyns 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 Boudewyns Family in Belgium
The surname Boudewyns is a patronymic name, which means it originated from the given name Baldwin. In the Dutch language, this name evolved into Boudewijn, and the addition of the "s" suffix indicates that the family were the descendants or children of a man named Boudewijn. By the year 1737, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Duchy of Brabant, a historically significant region that spanned parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy or trade guilds. Because the name was tied to a common personal name, it likely emerged independently in several different locations before becoming a fixed family surname. The presence of the family in Brabant during this period suggests they were part of the stable, land-holding, or artisan classes that formed the backbone of the region’s society before the industrial changes of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baldwin
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold friend or brave friend.
This name
BoudewynsA patronymic surname signifying son of the bold or brave friend.
also spelled
Boudewins
Boudewince
Boudewynz
Baldwin
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 Brabantse steden. 1965
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van Brabant
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