A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Mey family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
lionCourage, strength and royaltyJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion d'azur.”
The de Mey arms were recorded in Gand, 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.
Reigning in Belgium when the de Mey arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name de Mey holds deep roots in the historical landscape of Flanders, specifically within the city of Ghent. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents of this influential textile hub. During the eighteenth century, Ghent was a center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the de Meys often integrated into the local urban economy through skilled labor or merchant activities. The name itself is derived from the Middle Dutch word for a steward or a bailiff, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely held positions of local authority or managed estates for the nobility. As the family grew within the city, they became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the complex political shifts that occurred as the Southern Netherlands transitioned through various European powers. Their presence in Ghent reflects a long history of stability and adaptation within the Flemish community.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginningsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. de trois glands effeuillés du même, les queues en bas, chaque gland posé en bande.”
The de Mey arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 France in this period.
Reigning in Belgium when the de Mey arms are first recorded.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The history of the de Mey family name in France is deeply tied to the shifting borders of the seventeenth century. While the family was firmly established in the region of Flandre by 1663, this area was a complex crossroads where French, Flemish, and Spanish influences constantly overlapped. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term, as the word "mey" often referred to a local official or a person who held authority in a rural community. During this period, the family lived through a time of intense political transition as the French monarchy expanded its reach into the northern territories. Because the region was frequently contested by neighboring powers, families like the de Meys often had to navigate changing legal systems and shifting loyalties while maintaining their local roots. Their presence in the historical record during the 1660s highlights a time when families were beginning to solidify their identities within the newly defined borders of the French state.
Middle Dutch word referring to a meadow or pasture land.
