A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Pelch family of Belgium.
Reg. 4201 · Belgian, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 sin. à la fasce d'arg., acc. de trois roses d'or, tigées et feuillées d'un sin. plus foncé que le champ, les deux du chef posées en bande et en barre, celle en p. posée en bande. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une licorne iss. et cont. d'arg., la tête retournée à dextre; 2° un arbre arr. de sin. L. d'or et de sin. S.: à dextre une aigle d'or, languée de gu., à sen. un lion d'or, lamp. de gu. D.: VULNERAT ET SANAT [V. Gillès de Pelichy.]”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1823
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Map of Belgium showing where the Pelch arms are recorded
The Pelch arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1823.
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.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Belgium when the Pelch 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 Pelch Family in Belgium
The family name Pelch has roots tied to the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm members of the family were living by 1823. During this period, Flanders was a center of agricultural and industrial change, and families like the Pelchs often lived in small, tight-knit communities centered around local parish life. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects common to the Dutch-speaking areas of modern-day Belgium and northern France. Because many people in the early nineteenth century worked in trades or farming, the family was likely deeply connected to the seasonal rhythms of the Flemish landscape. These early generations helped shape the local culture of their home province, leaving behind a legacy that is preserved in the civil registries of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pelle
A Germanic or Latin term referring to skin, hide, or fur.
This name
PelchA topographic or occupational name for a person who worked with animal skins or furs.
also spelled
Pelichi
Pelishi
Pelishy
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Burgerlijke stand: provincie West-Vlaanderen, 1823
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
