A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowe family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6818 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. à trois feuilles de rosier d'or, la tige en haut (Dauwe); aux 2 et 3 d'or à une bande de gu., ch. de trois maillets d'arg., posés dans le sens de la bande et acc. au canton sen. du chef d'un écusson de sa. au lion d'arg., arm., lamp. et cour. d'or (Heetvelde). Brl. de sa. et d'arg. C.: une feuille du 1, entre un vol de sa. L. de sa. et d'or.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Dowe Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Dowe arms are recorded
The Dowe 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 Dowe 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 Dowe Family in France
The family name Dowe traces its roots to the northern regions of France, specifically within the historical territory of Flanders. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was a bustling hub of trade and cultural exchange between France and the Low Countries. During this period, the name was closely associated with the social and economic life of the Flemish borderlands. Families in this region often lived through significant political shifts as the borders between French and Spanish territories moved frequently. Because the name appears in local documentation during the mid-seventeenth century, it suggests that the Dowe family was part of the stable middle class or the agrarian population that sustained the local economy. These early ancestors likely navigated the complexities of life in a bilingual region where French and Dutch influences shaped their daily existence and community identity.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 trois étoiles d'arg. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Dowe Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Dowe arms are recorded
The Dowe arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Dowe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Dowe Family in Germany
The family name Dowe has deep roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. During this period, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and a growing transition toward industrialization. The name Dowe likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer Germanic given name, reflecting the common naming customs of the eighteenth century. Families in this area often lived in close-knit rural villages where they worked as skilled tradespeople or landowners. As the region underwent significant social and economic shifts in the late 1700s, the Dowe family became part of the local history that shaped the cultural identity of the Prussian province. By remaining in these specific districts, the family helped preserve the traditions and linguistic patterns that were unique to the Westphalian people during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Douai
A place name derived from the Latin name Duacum.
This name
DoweA locative surname originally denoting a person who hailed from the town of Douai in northern France.
also spelled
Dauw
Dauwee
Dowe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Nord, Série B (Chambre des comptes de Lille)
Lottin, Alain, Histoire des provinces françaises du Nord, 1989
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1900
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
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
leafHappiness and abundance
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
lionCourage, strength and royalty
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
