A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fransen family of Belgium.
Reg. 0441 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à la fasce ondée d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une meule de moulin de gu.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Fransen Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Fransen arms are recorded
The Fransen 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 Fransen 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 Fransen Family in Belgium
The surname Fransen is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Frans. This naming tradition was very common in the Low Countries, particularly in the region of Brabant, where the name appears in official records as early as 1737. During this era, families in Brabant often lived in small agricultural communities where they were deeply connected to the local parish. Because the name is rooted in the popular name Frans, it likely emerged independently in several different locations rather than coming from a single ancestor. As families moved through the provinces of the Netherlands and Belgium, they carried this name as a way to maintain their identity and family lineage across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Franciscus
Latin name meaning a free man or a Frenchman.
This name
FransenA patronymic surname meaning son of Frans or son of the free man.
also spelled
Franssen
Franssenz
Fransenz
Fransen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., Voornamen in Nederland, 1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum, Doop-, trouw- en begraafregisters (DTB) van Noord-Brabant, 1737
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
