A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fortemps family of Belgium.
Reg. 9705 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à trois roses de gu.; au 2 de gu. à une licorne ramp. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un sauvage iss. de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, arm. d'une masse à picotons posée sur son épaule et tenant de sa main dextre une rondache d'arg. D.: FORT PAR LE TEMPS.”
Belgiumc. 1659
Where the Fortemps Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Fortemps arms are recorded
The Fortemps arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1659.
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.
Philip IV of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip IV of Spain
1621–1665
Reigning in Belgium when the Fortemps 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 Fortemps Family in Belgium
The family name Fortemps finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, where members of the family were documented as early as 1659. The name itself is derived from the French words fort and temps, which translate literally to strong time or difficult weather. In the social context of the seventeenth century, such names often functioned as descriptive nicknames given to individuals who displayed great endurance during harsh winters or periods of agricultural hardship. As the family established their presence in the towns and rural landscapes of Brabant, they integrated into the local economy and community life. Over the following generations, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, reflecting a legacy of resilience that was passed down from those early settlers to their descendants.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fortis and Tempus
Latin for strong and time respectively.
This name
FortempsA descriptive surname referring to a person who is strong in time or enduring.
also spelled
Fortemps
Loneux
Fortemps Loneu
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parish registers of the Duchy of Brabant (Parochieregisters van het Hertogdom Brabant)
Books: Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
