Map of Belgium showing where the Moriel arms are recorded
The Moriel arms were recorded in Tournaisis, 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.
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 Moriel 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 Moriel Family in Belgium
The history of the Moriel family in Belgium is rooted in the fertile landscape of the Tournaisis region, where records confirm their presence as early as 1737. During this period, the area was a hub of agricultural activity and local trade, placing the family within a society defined by rural traditions and the influence of the nearby city of Tournai. Families in this part of the Southern Netherlands often lived in close-knit communities where names were passed down through generations of laborers and craftsmen. By settling in the Tournaisis, the Moriel family became part of a long-standing regional identity that survived the shifting political borders of the eighteenth century. Their early documentation in local parish registers suggests they were well-integrated into the social fabric of the countryside, contributing to the local economy and the steady development of the province.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'azur à deux lions affr. d'or; au chef de gu., ch. d'une tête de More, cour. de lauriers de sin.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1619
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Map of France showing where the Moriel arms are recorded
The Moriel arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1619.
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.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in Belgium when the Moriel 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 Moriel Family in France
The history of the Moriel family in France is deeply tied to the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were documented as early as 1619. During the seventeenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, often caught between the influence of the French Crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area during this period were frequently involved in the agricultural and administrative life of the duchy. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the eastern borderlands of France, reflecting a blend of regional dialects. As the family established their roots in this landscape, they became part of the local social fabric that defined the rural and town life of the era. Their presence in the historical records of 1619 suggests they were settled members of the community who participated in the daily traditions and economic activities of the Lorraine region during a time of significant transition.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
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 un agneau pass. d'arg.”
SwitzerlandFribourg, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Moriel arms are recorded
The Moriel arms were recorded in Fribourg, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Moriel Family in Switzerland
The Moriel family name has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Fribourg, where records confirm their presence as early as 1745. During the mid-18th century, families in this region were often defined by their connection to the land and their participation in the local parish community. The name likely emerged from the linguistic melting pot of the Fribourg region, which sits on the border of French and German-speaking Switzerland. At that time, the Moriel family would have been part of a society structured around agricultural production and strict religious oversight. As residents of Fribourg, they were subject to the laws of the Old Swiss Confederacy, which granted specific rights and responsibilities to established families within their home cantons. By maintaining a documented presence in the city, the Moriel family secured a place in the local social hierarchy, allowing them to participate in the civic and economic life of the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maurus
Derived from the Latin word for a dark-skinned person or Moor.
This name
MorielA locative or habitational name likely referring to someone from a dark or marshy area.
also spelled
Morrell
Morell
Morelle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État à Tournai, Registres paroissiaux du Tournaisis (1737)
De Moreau, Edouard, Histoire de l'Église en Belgique, 1945
Roland, Charles-Gustave, Histoire généalogique de la famille Moriel, 1902
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lambGentleness, patience and faith
