A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Wan family of France.
Reg. 0873 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un agneau pascal pass. d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles d'or.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the de Wan Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the de Wan arms are recorded
The de Wan 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 de Wan 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 de Wan Family in France
The family name de Wan traces its roots to the historic region of Flanders, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1663. During this period, Flanders was a vibrant center of trade and agriculture, and the name likely originated as a topographical identifier to describe a person who lived near a specific landmark or a particular water feature. In the Dutch language, the prefix "de" simply means "the," suggesting that the name was used to distinguish a specific household or individual within their local community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Flemish countryside, participating in the daily life and local governance of their parishes. Their presence in official records from the mid-seventeenth century indicates that they were settled citizens who played a role in the stability and development of the region during a time of significant political change in the Low Countries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
God is gracious
This name
de WanA locative or patronymic surname derived from the French form of John.
also spelled
Wann
Wanne
Waan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Parochieregisters van de provincie West-Vlaanderen, 1663
De Flou, Karel, Woordenboek der toponymie van westelijk Vlaanderen, Vlaamsch Artesië, het land van den Hoek, de graafschappen Guines en Boulogne en een gedeelte van het graafschap Ponthieu, 1914
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lambGentleness, patience and faith
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
lambGentleness, patience and faith
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
