A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Maertens family of Belgium.
lambGentleness, patience and faithJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. à trois têtes de brebis d'arg.”
The Maertens arms were recorded in Bruges, 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.
Reigning in Belgium when the Maertens arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Maertens is a patronymic surname, which means it originated from the given name Martin. In the Dutch-speaking regions of Flanders, the name evolved into its current form as a way to identify individuals as the children or descendants of a man named Martin. By the year 1737, records confirm that the Maertens family was well-established in the historic city of Bruges. During this period, Bruges was a vital center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Maertens were often integrated into the local urban economy. As residents of such a prominent city, early family members likely participated in the active social and commercial life that defined the region during the eighteenth century. The name remains a testament to the long-standing presence of these ancestors within the cultural landscape of West Flanders.
Derived from Mars, the Roman god of war.
