A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graffin family of Belgium.
Reg. 2336 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 gu. à la fasce d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or, et acc. en chef d'un bouc naiss. d'arg., mouv. de la fasce.”
Belgiumc. 1725
Where the Graffin Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Graffin arms are recorded
The Graffin arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1725.
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 Graffin 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 Graffin Family in Belgium
The family name Graffin has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. During this period, Brabant was a central hub for trade and agriculture, situated across parts of what are now Belgium and the Netherlands. Families living in this area often took names based on their local occupations or their specific geographic origins within the duchy. The name likely evolved from regional dialects spoken in the Low Countries, reflecting the linguistic blend of Dutch and French influences common in the region at the time. By the eighteenth century, the Graffin family was part of a stable social structure that relied on parish records to track births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors were likely involved in the local economy of Brabant, contributing to the development of the rural and urban communities that defined the region during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graf
A German noble title equivalent to a count or earl.
This name
GraffinA diminutive or patronymic form referring to someone associated with a count.
also spelled
Grafin
Related arms
Abrahami d'Ehrenburgsimilar arms
Contisimilar arms
Graffenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Algemeen Rijksarchief), Parish Registers of the Duchy of Brabant (Parochieregisters van het Hertogdom Brabant)
De Meester, A., Geschiedenis van de Brabantse Familienamen, 1982
Van der Essen, L., Étude sur les origines de la vie communale en Belgique, 1919
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
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
