A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de My family of Belgium.
Reg. 1550 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à la fasce haussée de gu., acc. de quatre pals du même, retraits en p. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de gu.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the de My Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the de My arms are recorded
The de My 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 My 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 My Family in Belgium
The family name de My traces its historical roots to the region of Brabant, where members of the family were documented as early as 1737. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a bustling center of trade and agriculture located within the Southern Netherlands. Families living in this area often took names derived from their specific village or local landscape to distinguish themselves in growing communities. The prefix "de" suggests that the family likely originated from a place called My, which was a common naming convention used to identify a person’s place of origin or ancestral home. As the family established themselves in the region, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their community through farming, trade, or local craftsmanship. This early presence in Brabant marks the beginning of the family’s recorded history and reflects the typical migration and naming patterns of families living in the Low Countries during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mei
Middle Dutch term referring to the month of May.
This name
de MyA topographic or habitational name indicating someone who lived near a Maypole or during the month of May.
also spelled
Demie
de Mee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Algemeen Rijksarchief (General State Archives of Belgium), Parochieregisters (Parish Registers), Brabant series
Le Roy, Jacques, "Notitia Marchionatus Sacri Romani Imperii: hoc est, Urbis et Agri Antverpiensis", 1678
Wauters, Alphonse, "Histoire des environs de Bruxelles", 1855
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
