A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Majors family of Belgium.
Reg. 8713 · Belgian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vairProtection, and the winter fur
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
Colours
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 vair; au lambel d'or en chef. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu. L.: d'arg. et d'azur. T.: deux sauvages, ceints et cour. de lierre, tenant chacun d'une main une bannière aux armes de l'écu sans lambel et de l'autre une massue de sa., posée sur le sol.”
Belgiumc. 1817
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Map of Belgium showing where the Majors arms are recorded
The Majors arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1817.
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.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Belgium when the Majors 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 Majors Family in Belgium
The family name Majors traces its roots back to the historical region of Brabant, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By the year 1817, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this area. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive title or a nickname derived from the Latin word "major," meaning greater or superior. In the social structure of the early nineteenth century, such a name was often used to distinguish a person of higher status, a local official, or simply the eldest member of a household. As families moved across borders during this period of European history, the name became a permanent identifier that linked descendants to their ancestral home in the Low Countries. This transition from a functional title to a fixed surname reflects the way many families solidified their identities during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maior
Latin term meaning greater or larger in size or rank.
This name
MajorsAn occupational or status-based surname denoting a person of higher rank or a local official.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Burgerlijke Stand: Provincie Brabant (Civil Registry: Brabant Province)
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk (Dictionary of family names in Belgium and Northern France), 2003
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Collectanea Etymologica (Collection of Etymologies), 1717
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
