Map of Belgium showing where the Schiffer arms are recorded
The Schiffer 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 Schiffer 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 Schiffer Family in Belgium
The surname Schiffer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "schif," which refers to a boat or a ship. Historically, this name was an occupational descriptor used to identify someone who worked as a boatman, a sailor, or a shipbuilder. By the mid-17th century, the name had spread beyond its Germanic roots into various regions of Europe, including the historical territory of Flanders. Records confirm that members of the Schiffer family were established in Flanders by 1663, likely drawn to the area by the region's thriving maritime trade and busy canal networks. As these individuals moved across borders, the name remained a testament to their ancestors' vital role in navigating the waterways that connected early modern European economies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schiff
A Middle High German term referring to a boat or ship.
This name
SchifferAn occupational surname for a boatman, sailor, or someone who worked in shipbuilding.
also spelled
Schiffar
Shifer
Shiffer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Rijksarchief te Gent (State Archives in Ghent), Parochieregisters (Parish Registers), 1663
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
ravenConstancy and divine providence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ravenConstancy and divine providence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
