A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Patey family of Belgium.
Reg. 4151 · Belgian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 une tour d'arg., surm. d'une tête et col de licorne du même, accornée et crinée d'or, et acc. en chef de deux étoiles du sec. C.: la tête et col de licorne.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
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Map of Belgium showing where the Patey arms are recorded
The Patey arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 IV of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip IV of Spain
1621–1665
Reigning in Belgium when the Patey 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Patey Family in Belgium
The surname Patey has deep roots in the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. During this period, the area was a bustling center of trade and agriculture, often caught between the shifting borders of France and the Spanish Netherlands. Families like the Pateys were typically integrated into the local community through skilled labor or land management, reflecting the industrious nature of the Flemish people. As the name moved through these changing political landscapes, it likely evolved in spelling and pronunciation to suit the local dialects of the region. This early presence in Flanders suggests that the family was part of the foundational social fabric that helped define the cultural identity of the Low Countries during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pater
Latin term meaning father or a person of paternal authority.
This name
PateyA nickname or occupational name referring to a father figure or priest.
also spelled
Patte
Patty
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters (Dopen, Huwelijken, Begrafenissen)
Archives départementales du Nord, Série G: Clergé séculier
De Flou, Karel, Woordenboek der toponymie van westelijk Vlaanderen, Vlaamsch Artesië, het Land van den Hoek, de Fransche Westhoek, Staats-Vlaanderen en het Doorniksche, 1914
Pirenne, Henri, Histoire de Belgique, 1900
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
