A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Five family of Belgium.
Reg. 6016 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vairProtection, and the winter fur
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
VairMeans: Protection
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 parti: d. d'arg. au lion de gu.; b. de vair plein; au 2 de gu. à un croiss. d'or. C.: le lion, iss.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Five Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Five arms are recorded
The Five 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 Five 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 Five Family in Belgium
The family name Five has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1737. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a vibrant area known for its complex network of trade and agriculture, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of early family members. Names often evolved during this time based on local dialects, phonetic spellings by government clerks, or the specific geographic location of a household. Because the region served as a crossroads for various European cultures, the name may have been shaped by the movement of people across borders. While the exact origin of the name remains a subject of study, its presence in Brabant suggests that the family was part of the established social fabric of the Low Countries long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fiv
Derived from the Latin word for five or a numerical designation.
This name
FiveLikely an occupational or locational identifier originally denoting a fifth child or a fifth-born descendant.
also spelled
Fives
Fivetz
Fivess
Five
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Algemeen Rijksarchief, Parochieregisters van Brabant, 1737
De Smet, A., Geschiedenis van Brabant, 1968
Van der Essen, L., Étude sur le développement historique de la région de Brabant, 1920
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
