A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Deems family of Belgium.
Reg. 5484 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à quatre bandes de gu.; au chef du premier, ch. d'un lion léopardé de sa., arm. et lamp. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
BelgiumGand, c. 1706
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Belgium showing where the Deems arms are recorded
The Deems arms were recorded in Gand, c. 1706.
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.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1700–1714
Reigning in Belgium when the Deems 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 Deems Family in Belgium
The family name Deems has roots that trace back to the region around Ghent, which is known as Gand in French. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1706. During this period, the city served as a major center for trade and textile production in the Low Countries. Families living in this region often took on names that reflected their local surroundings or their specific occupations within the bustling city economy. As the family moved across borders and eventually toward the English-speaking world, the spelling of the name likely shifted to adapt to new phonetic patterns. This migration was common for families seeking new opportunities in trade or agriculture during the eighteenth century. By settling in different regions, the early members of the Deems family helped establish a lineage that moved from the historic streets of Flanders into a broader international history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Diem
A Germanic term referring to a day or a judge.
This name
DeemsA patronymic surname derived from the name Diem, meaning son of the judge.
also spelled
Heems
Heem
de Hems
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Ghent (Rijksarchief te Gent), Parochieregisters (Dopen, Huwelijken, Begrafenissen), 1706
Blockmans, Wim, A History of Power in Europe: Peoples, Markets, States, 1997
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1902
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
