A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ghys family of Belgium.
Reg. 5160 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même. Cq. cour. C.: une colombe au nat.”
BelgiumCourtrai, c. 1737
Where the Ghys Arms Were Recorded
Courtrai
Map of Belgium showing where the Ghys arms are recorded
The Ghys arms were recorded in Courtrai, c. 1737.
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 Ghys 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 Ghys Family in Belgium
The family name Ghys has deep roots in the region of Flanders, specifically within the city of Courtrai, which is known today as Kortrijk. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by at least 1737. During this period, Courtrai was a bustling center for the textile industry, and families like the Ghys often played active roles in the local economy and urban life. The name itself is a shortened form of Gijsbrecht, a traditional Germanic name that was very popular in the Low Countries. Over many generations, the name evolved from a formal given name into a hereditary surname passed down from parents to their children. By settling in a major trade hub like Courtrai, the early Ghys family members were likely integrated into a society defined by craftsmanship, trade, and the complex social structures of eighteenth-century Belgium.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gijsbrecht
A Germanic compound meaning bright pledge or radiant hostage.
This name
GhysA patronymic form derived from the personal name Gijs, a shortened version of Gijsbrecht.
also spelled
Ghyss
Gis
Related arms
Bethunerecorded with Ghys, same area
de Heererecorded with Ghys, same area
du Toictrecorded with Ghys, same area
Foreeste (van de)recorded with Ghys, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rijksarchief te Kortrijk, Parochieregisters van Kortrijk (Doop-, huwelijks- en overlijdensakten)
Stadsarchief Kortrijk, Bevolkingsregisters en burgerlijke stand
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 1993
Vanneste, Dominique, Kortrijk: Een stad in de geschiedenis, 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
