A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brou family of Belgium.
Reg. 9846 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 un dragon d'or, dans l'attitude de l'aigle héraldique.”
BelgiumTournaisis, c. 1737
Where the Brou Arms Were Recorded
Tournaisis
Map of Belgium showing where the Brou arms are recorded
The Brou arms were recorded in Tournaisis, 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 Brou 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 Brou Family in Belgium
The family name Brou has deep roots in the historical region of Tournaisis, which sits along the border of modern-day Belgium and France. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the Brou family were firmly established within this territory. During the eighteenth century, the area was a crossroads of culture and trade, often caught between the shifting borders of European powers. Families living in Tournaisis at this time were typically involved in local agriculture or specialized crafts, as the fertile land supported a stable rural economy. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects, reflecting the way people identified their neighbors by their specific place of residence or their trade. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local traditions and community life that defined this historic corner of Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Broel
Old Germanic term referring to a marshy area or enclosed woodland.
This name
BrouA topographic name for someone who lived near a marshy thicket or an enclosed piece of land.
also spelled
Brou
Broo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Tournai, Registres paroissiaux de la province de Hainaut, 1737
Dion, Michel, Histoire de Tournai et du Tournaisis, 1988
Hocquet, Jean-Claude, Le Tournaisis au XVIIIe siècle, 1975
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dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
