Map of Belgium showing where the Dechant arms are recorded
The Dechant 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 Dechant 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 Dechant Family in Belgium
The family name Dechant originated as a status-based surname derived from the ecclesiastical title of a dean. In medieval Europe, such names were often assigned to individuals who held administrative roles within the church or who served as representatives for a local parish. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the region of Brabant. Records from 1737 confirm that members of the family were integrated into the local community during this period, likely participating in the agricultural or trade-based economy that defined the area. As the family moved through the changing political landscapes of the Low Countries, they maintained this connection to their professional roots while adapting to the social structures of their time. This history reflects a transition from a title denoting a specific duty to a permanent family name passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Decanus
Latin term for a leader of ten people or a dean.
This name
DechantAn occupational surname for someone who held the position of a dean or a church official.
also spelled
Douchand
Dooshan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 1993
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
