A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Waele family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0155 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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 sin. au chef d'herm.; au fr.-q. de gu., br. sur le tout et ch. d'une étoile d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the de Waele Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the de Waele arms are recorded
The de Waele arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the de Waele Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the de Waele arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the de Waele Family in Netherlands
The surname de Waele carries a rich history that reflects the linguistic and geographic shifts of the Low Countries. The name itself is derived from the Middle Dutch word "Wael," which was traditionally used to describe people who spoke a Romance language, such as French or Walloon. In the context of the Netherlands, this name often identified individuals who had migrated from the southern regions or those who lived near the linguistic border. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the northern province of Friesland. This suggests that the family had successfully integrated into the distinct Frisian culture by 1815, likely adapting to the local social and economic structures of the time. Their presence in this northern region highlights the movement of families across the Dutch provinces during a period of significant national transformation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur fretté d'or.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the de Waele Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the de Waele arms are recorded
The de Waele 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Netherlands when the de Waele arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
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.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Flandre.
Origin & History of the de Waele Family in France
The name de Waele originates from the historical region of Flanders, which straddled the border between modern-day France and Belgium. In the Dutch language, the name literally translates to "the Walloon," a term historically used by Flemish speakers to describe people from the French-speaking southern regions. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely migrants or traders who moved between the linguistic borders of the Low Countries and northern France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the area, living through a period of intense political change as the French monarchy expanded its influence over Flemish territories. Because the region was a crossroads for merchants and laborers, the family name served as a social marker that identified their origins in a diverse and shifting cultural landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Waal
A person originating from the Walloon region or speaking a Romance language.
This name
de WaeleA topographic or ethnic surname referring to someone who came from the Walloon provinces.
also spelled
Waele
de Wale
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregisters van de provincie Friesland
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
