A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caris family of Belgium.
Reg. 8809 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au saut. d'arg., ch. de cinq étoiles du champ; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une femme de carn., cour. d'or, iss. d'une cuve du même.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Caris Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Caris arms are recorded
The Caris 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 Caris 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 Caris Family in Belgium
The family name Caris finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this area. The name likely evolved as a patronymic or a descriptive surname, reflecting the linguistic traditions common to the Low Countries during the eighteenth century. Families in this region often lived in close-knit agricultural or merchant communities, where names were used to distinguish individuals based on their family lineage or their specific trade. As the Caris family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the towns and villages where they settled. Their presence in the historical archives of Brabant provides a clear link to the cultural and economic life of the region during the mid-eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Carus
Latin term meaning dear, beloved, or precious.
This name
CarisA locative or descriptive surname derived from the Latin term for a beloved person.
also spelled
Cariz
Karis
Related arms
Matthasimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven, Doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken (DTB) van de regio Brabant
Rijksarchief in België, Parochieregisters van het Hertogdom Brabant
Leenders, K.A.H.W., Van Turnhout tot Tilburg: Een historisch-geografische studie over de ontginningen in de Kempen, 1996
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
