A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buteau family of Belgium.
Reg. 9628 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 têtes d'aigle d'arg.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Buteau Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Buteau arms are recorded
The Buteau 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 Buteau 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 Buteau Family in Belgium
The family name Buteau has deep roots tied to the historical region of Brabant, where members of the family were documented as early as 1737. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname in the French language, likely derived from the word "but," which refers to a target, a boundary marker, or a specific goal. In the social structure of the eighteenth century, such names were often assigned to identify individuals based on their occupation or the specific location of their land near a village boundary. As the family established themselves in Brabant, they became part of a complex regional history defined by shifting borders and the influence of both French and Dutch cultures. Over time, the Buteau name moved beyond its initial local identification, reflecting the migration patterns and the evolving social status of families living in this busy crossroads of Western Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
But
Old French term for a target, boundary marker, or end point.
This name
ButeauA topographic name for someone living near a boundary marker or a target.
also spelled
Butault
Buto
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives de l'État à Namur, Registres paroissiaux de la province de Brabant
Archives: Archives générales du Royaume, Fonds de l'état civil
Book: De Smet, Antoine, Histoire de la province de Brabant, 1965
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
