A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brau family of Belgium.
Reg. 6077 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
vairProtection, and the winter fur
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à trois pals de vair; au chef d'or.”
BelgiumBruxelles, c. 1737
Where the Brau Arms Were Recorded
Bruxelles
Map of Belgium showing where the Brau arms are recorded
The Brau arms were recorded in Bruxelles, c. 1737.
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 Brau 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 Brau Family in Belgium
The family name Brau is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Low Countries, with clear evidence placing the family in Bruxelles by the year 1737. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle Dutch word "brau," which was often used as a descriptive term for someone with distinct eyebrows or, in some regional dialects, as a variation related to the brewing trade. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often identified by their proximity to specific city districts or their contributions to local guilds. As residents of Bruxelles, the early members of the Brau family lived in a bustling center of commerce and administration. Their presence in the city records during this period suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the social and economic life of the capital during the Austrian Netherlands era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brauw
Middle Dutch term for a brewer of beer.
This name
BrauAn occupational surname for someone who brewed and sold ale or beer.
also spelled
Braue
Braus
Brow
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de la Ville de Bruxelles, Registres paroissiaux (Baptêmes, Mariages, Sépultures), 1737
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
