A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fineman family of Belgium.
Reg. 2092 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
bullValour and generosity
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à trois roses d'arg., bout. d'or; au 2 coupé, de sa. à une couronne d'or, sur gu. à une croisette d'arg.; au 3 d'arg. à une tête de boeuf cont. de gu.; au 4 de sa. à une herse de labour triangulaire renversée d'or, sommée d'une croisette du même.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Fineman Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Fineman arms are recorded
The Fineman arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
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 Fineman 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 Brabant.
Origin & History of the Fineman Family in Belgium
The surname Fineman carries a history deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of the Low Countries, with documented evidence placing the family in the Duchy of Brabant as early as 1737. During the eighteenth century, the region was a vibrant center for trade and craftsmanship, and the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier for an individual’s character or professional standing within the local community. In the Germanic and Dutch linguistic traditions of the area, names were often formed by combining descriptors with common nouns, suggesting that the early bearers of the name were recognized for their fine craftsmanship or perhaps their refined social standing. As the family moved through the changing political borders of Brabant, they integrated into the local administrative systems, leaving behind records that track their transition from rural life to the more structured urban environments of the era. This early presence in Brabant serves as the foundation for the family’s long-standing connection to the region, reflecting the broader patterns of social mobility and naming conventions found in Western Europe during the Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fine
A Germanic term meaning refined, delicate, or of high quality.
This name
FinemanAn occupational or descriptive name for a person of refined character or high social standing.
also spelled
Finemans
Fineman
Finemanss
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Algemeen Rijksarchief (General State Archives of Belgium), Fonds: États de Brabant, 1737
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Leys, O., De familienamen in de Nederlanden, 1987
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