Map of Belgium showing where the Braswell arms are recorded
The Braswell 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 Braswell 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 Braswell Family in Belgium
The surname Braswell is believed to have roots in the historical region of Brabant, a territory that spanned parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By 1737, records indicate that families bearing this name were well-established within this area. The name likely functioned as a locative surname, which was a common naming practice during that era. This means the family was probably identified by their connection to a specific town, farm, or geographic feature within the Brabant landscape. As these individuals moved across borders or migrated to new regions, they carried the name with them, helping it evolve from a local identifier into a permanent family legacy. This transition reflects the broader patterns of European migration during the eighteenth century, where families often moved to seek new opportunities while maintaining ties to their ancestral origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brace
Old French term for arm or branch
This name
BraswellDerived from a topographic location near a branch or arm of a river or forest.
also spelled
Brusselle
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van Brabant
National Archives of the Netherlands (Nationaal Archief), Doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken van Noord-Brabant
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Leys, O., De familienamen in de Brabantse steden, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
