Map of Belgium showing where the Michel arms are recorded
The Michel arms were recorded in Limb, c. 1686.
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 II of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of Spain
1665–1700
Reigning in Belgium when the Michel 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 Michel Family in Belgium
The family name Michel has deep roots in the region of Limburg, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1686. The name itself is a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name Michel, which is the French and Dutch form of Michael. During the late 17th century, the area of Limburg was a complex landscape of shifting borders and cultural influences between the Low Countries and neighboring territories. Families living in this region often navigated a mix of French and Germanic linguistic traditions, which helped the name Michel spread steadily through local parish registers and community documents. By settling in this part of Belgium, early Michel ancestors became part of a society defined by agriculture, local trade, and the slow growth of village life. These early generations helped establish the name as a permanent fixture in the social fabric of the region, passing it down through centuries of local history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à la fasce d'or, acc. de deux croix recr. au pied fiché du même, 1 en chef et 1 en p.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1542
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Map of France showing where the Michel arms are recorded
The Michel arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1542.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 France in this period.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in Belgium when the Michel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Michel Family in France
The surname Michel traces its roots back to the medieval period in France, where it emerged as a patronymic name derived from the Hebrew name Michael. Because this name became associated with the Archangel Michael, it gained immense popularity across French provinces during the Middle Ages. By the mid-sixteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Lorraine region, a territory then caught between the influences of the French Crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Records from 1542 confirm that members of the Michel family were active participants in the local society of Lorraine during this time. As the family grew, they integrated into the agricultural and administrative life of the eastern borderlands. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who settled in the fertile lands of the Meuse and Moselle river valleys, helping to shape the cultural identity of the region before it was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per chev. ar. and sa. three herons' heads erased counterchanged”
DorsetKingston Russell · Dorset, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Michel arms are recorded
The Michel arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Belgium when the Michel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dorset.
Origin & History of the Michel Family in England
The surname Michel has deep roots in England, where it evolved from the personal name Michael, which means "who is like God." By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the county of Dorset. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Michel family were living in this region, likely working as landowners or tradespeople within the local community. During this era, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed, and families often stayed in the same geographic area for generations. The presence of the Michel name in Dorset suggests that these early ancestors were part of the stable rural society that defined much of southwestern England at the time. Over the following decades, the family continued to grow and spread throughout the English countryside, leaving behind a clear trail in local parish registers and legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mikha'el
Who is like God?
This name
MichelA French variant of Michael, signifying a person who is like the divine.
also spelled
Mychel
Mishel
Mitchell
Mychell
Mychael
Related arms
Bassengesimilar arms
Bruissaysimilar arms
Valois (le) de Murçaysimilar arms
Mychellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Genette, Jean-Pierre. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille de Belgique, 1998
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parish Registers of the Province of Limburg (Parochieregisters van de provincie Limburg), 1600–1700
Marynissen, Ann. De familienamen in het Belgisch-Nederlandse grensgebied, 2002
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
