A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graz family of Belgium.
Reg. 3598 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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)
“D'arg. au lion léopardé de gu.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Graz Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Graz arms are recorded
The Graz arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
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 Graz 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 Graz Family in Belgium
The family name Graz is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Low Countries, with confirmed records placing the family in the region of Brabant by 1737. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a vibrant center of trade and agriculture under the rule of the Austrian Habsburgs. Families living in this area often took names that reflected their geographic origins or their specific roles within the local community. The name Graz likely evolved from these regional ties, serving as a way to identify members of the family as they moved through the bustling towns and rural parishes of the province. By settling in Brabant, the early ancestors of the Graz family became part of a complex social fabric that relied on strong community connections and local record-keeping to track lineage. These early generations lived through a period of significant transition in European history, which helped shape the identity and movement of the family for years to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grad
A Slavic term referring to a fortified settlement, castle, or town.
This name
GrazA topographic name for someone who lived near or within a fortified town or castle.
also spelled
Graz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Parochieregisters van de provincie Brabant
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
De Smet, A., Geschiedenis van Brabant, 1974
Van der Essen, L., Étude sur le droit public et la vie communale au Brabant, 1909
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
