Map of Belgium showing where the de Lion arms are recorded
The de Lion arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
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 de Lion 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 Lion Family in Belgium
The family name de Lion has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where members of the family were documented as early as 1737. During this period, the area was part of the Austrian Netherlands, a time defined by agricultural growth and the expansion of local trade guilds. Families with this name often lived in rural or semi-urban communities where they contributed to the local economy as skilled workers or landowners. Because the name translates to "of the lion," it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific location that featured a lion in its name or signage. By the mid-18th century, the de Lion family was firmly established within the social fabric of Brabant, participating in the daily life and administrative record-keeping of their parish. Their presence in these early church and civil registers provides a clear window into how families navigated the shifting political landscape of Belgium before it became an independent nation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'arg., percé d'une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, tenue par un bras, arm. d'arg., iss. du canton sen. de la p.; au chef d'or, ch. de trois étoiles de gu.”
FranceStrasbourg, c. 1809
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Map of France showing where the de Lion arms are recorded
The de Lion arms were recorded in Strasbourg, c. 1809.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in Belgium when the de Lion 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 France.
Origin & History of the de Lion Family in France
The name de Lion carries a rich history that reflects the complex evolution of French society during the early nineteenth century. By 1809, members of the family were firmly established in Strasbourg, a city that served as a vital cultural and political bridge between France and the German-speaking lands. During this period, the Napoleonic administration required families to solidify their surnames through formal civil registration, a process that helped standardize identity across the French Empire. The name itself suggests a connection to the lion, a symbol of strength and authority that was often adopted or assigned during the transition toward fixed hereditary naming conventions. As residents of a major border city, the family likely navigated a unique environment where French administrative reforms met long-standing regional traditions. This setting suggests that the family was part of the growing urban middle class that benefited from the modernization of French bureaucracy and the expansion of trade in the Alsace region.
de Lion Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Leo
Latin term for a large predatory feline animal.
This name
de LionRefers to a person who is brave or strong like a lion.
also spelled
Delione
Delionn
de Leeon
Related arms
des Lionsvariant spelling
du Lionvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Parochieregisters van Brabant (Parish Registers of Brabant)
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Registry)
Willemsen, M., Geschiedenis van Brabant van het hertogdom tot heden, 2004
De Smet, A., De bevolkingsgeschiedenis van de Zuidelijke Nederlanden in de 18e eeuw, 1978
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
swordJustice, and military honour
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
