A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geisen family of Belgium.
Reg. 2370 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 d'arg. à la bande de gu. (Geisen); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la fasce de gu., ch. de trois croisettes d'or et acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis du sec. (Schellert). C.: une croix d'or; entre un vol, d'arg. et de sa. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
BelgiumLuxemb, c. 1712
Where the Geisen Arms Were Recorded
Luxemb
Map of Belgium showing where the Geisen arms are recorded
The Geisen arms were recorded in Luxemb, c. 1712.
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 V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1700–1714
Reigning in Belgium when the Geisen 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 Geisen Family in Belgium
The family name Geisen originates from the Germanic regions of Europe, specifically within the borderlands where modern-day Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium meet. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "geis," which refers to a goat, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have been goat herders or lived near a notable landmark associated with the animal. By 1712, records confirm that members of the Geisen family were well-established in the Luxembourgish countryside. During this era, families in the region were often tied to the land through agriculture and small-scale trade. As the family grew, they moved between local villages to find work in farming or craftsmanship. This transition from rural life to more specialized roles helped the name persist through generations as the family integrated into the changing social structure of the Luxembourgish duchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gis
A Germanic element meaning pledge, hostage, or bright shaft.
This name
GeisenA patronymic surname derived from a short form of Germanic names containing the element gis.
also spelled
Geisene
Geisenn
Geis
Gisen
Related arms
Geisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Luxembourg National Archives (Archives nationales de Luxembourg), État civil et registres paroissiaux
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
