Map of Belgium showing where the de Bois arms are recorded
The de Bois arms were recorded in Jemeppe Liége, 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 de Bois 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 de Bois Family in Belgium
The surname de Bois is a locative name, which means it was originally used to describe people who lived near or worked within a forest. In French, the word bois translates directly to wood or forest. By the early eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the village of Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, located in the region of Liège. Records from 1737 confirm their presence in this area, where the family likely played a role in the local community during a time when the region was part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Because the name is descriptive, it emerged independently in many different parts of the French-speaking world, though the branch in Jemeppe became deeply rooted in the industrial and agricultural life of the Meuse river valley.
de Bois Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Boscus
A Latin term referring to woodland or forest.
This name
de BoisA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near or worked in a forest.
also spelled
de Boi
de Boisse
de Bwah
Bois
Related arms
de Boysvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Liège, Registres paroissiaux de Jemeppe-sur-Meuse (Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Herbillon, Jules and Germain, Jean, Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Belgique romane et dans les régions limitrophes, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
