A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dekens family of France.
Reg. 2245 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au chev. de sin., acc. de trois tourt. du même; au chef du sec., ch. de trois croiss. du premier.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Dekens Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Dekens arms are recorded
The Dekens 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 France when the Dekens 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 Dekens Family in France
The family name Dekens has deep roots in the historical region of Flanders, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. The name is derived from the Middle Dutch word deken, which translates to dean. In the medieval period, this title was often used for the head of a religious chapter or a leader of a craft guild. It is likely that the first people to carry this name held a position of authority or served as a representative for their local professional organization. As surnames became permanent during the seventeenth century, the name transitioned from a professional title to a hereditary family identifier. This evolution reflects the importance of trade and community leadership in the social structure of the Flemish Low Countries during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
deken
A religious official or leader of a group of ten.
This name
DekensRefers to the son or servant of a dean or ecclesiastical official.
also spelled
Dekken
Dekenss
Dekensse
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 of Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters (Dopen, Huwelijken, Begrafenissen), 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
