A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mevis family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0773 · Belgian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
branchPeace, and new growth
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
columnFortitude and constancy
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à deux rameaux de laurier de sin., passés en saut. dans une couronne de laurier du même; au 2 de gu. à une colonne d'arg., accolée d'un serpent d'azur, cour. d'or, ladite colonne surm. d'une étoile d'arg. C.: une étoile d'arg., posée au centre d'un tortil circulaire d'arg. et de gu.; entre un vol de sa. S.: deux lions reg. d'or, arm et lamp. de gu.”
NamurNamur, c. 1562
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Belgium showing where the Mevis arms are recorded
The Mevis arms were recorded in Namur, c. 1562.
Namur was small country where two rivers meet, living on iron and stone. Its families held land and worked metal, and both sorts of property were marked with arms.
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.
Philip II of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip II of Spain
1556–1598
Reigning in Belgium when the Mevis 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 Namur.
Origin & History of the Mevis Family in Belgium
The history of the Mevis family in Belgium is deeply rooted in the region of Namur, where records confirm their presence as early as 1562. During the sixteenth century, Namur served as a vital crossroads for trade and military activity within the Low Countries, placing the family in a dynamic environment shaped by shifting political borders and religious tensions. The name likely evolved as a patronymic or a local identifier, reflecting the common naming customs of the Meuse River valley. As residents of this strategic area, early members of the family were likely involved in the local craft guilds or agricultural life that defined the economy of the Walloon provinces. By establishing themselves in Namur during this period, the family became part of the long-standing social fabric of the region, enduring through the turbulent decades of the Dutch Revolt and the subsequent administrative changes under Spanish rule.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande d'arg., acc. de deux roses du même et ch. d'une flèche de sa. posée dans le sens de la bande. C.: deux roses d'arg., tigées et feuillées de sin.”
GermanyAltdorf Bav, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Mevis arms are recorded
The Mevis arms were recorded in Altdorf Bav, c. 1765.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Belgium when the Mevis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Mevis Family in Germany
The name Mevis traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Bartholomew. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family established a documented presence in the town of Altdorf, a location historically significant for its proximity to Nuremberg and its renowned university. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Mevis family were active participants in the social and economic life of this region during a period of transition in the Holy Roman Empire. As residents of a town known for its intellectual and academic influence, these early ancestors likely engaged in the skilled trades or agricultural labor that defined the local economy. Their presence in Altdorf suggests a stable family lineage that integrated into the fabric of small-town German life, contributing to the local community through generations of steady work and civic involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartolomeus
Aramaic for son of Talmai meaning abounding in furrows.
This name
MevisA patronymic surname derived from the shortened form of the biblical name Bartholomew.
also spelled
Meviusse
Meviusz
Meviusss
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Namur, Registres paroissiaux de la ville de Namur
Archives de l'État à Namur, Fonds de la Cour féodale de Namur
Delooz, Pierre, Les noms de famille en Belgique, 1985
Genicot, Léopold, Racines d'espérance: Vingt siècles en Wallonie, 1986
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
branchPeace, and new growth
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
columnFortitude and constancy
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
columnFortitude and constancy
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
