Map of Belgium showing where the Sham arms are recorded
The Sham arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Sham 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 Brabant.
Origin & History of the Sham Family in Belgium
The family name Sham has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1737. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a bustling center of trade and agriculture located within the Southern Netherlands. Families living in this area often took names based on their specific trade, their physical traits, or the local geography of their village. Because the region was a crossroads for many different cultures and languages, the name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals within their local community. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the social fabric of their towns by participating in local guilds and contributing to the development of the rural landscape. By studying the lives of these early residents, we gain a better understanding of how families in the Low Countries lived, worked, and maintained their identities during a period of significant regional change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Samson
Derived from the Hebrew word for sun or sunlight.
This name
ShamA locative or patronymic surname likely originating from shortened forms of biblical names or regional Germanic descriptors.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Algemeen Rijksarchief (General State Archives of Belgium), Parochieregisters van Brabant (Parish Registers of Brabant)
De Smet, A., Geschiedenis van Brabant (History of Brabant), 1965
Vandermaelen, P., Dictionnaire géographique de la province de Brabant (Geographical Dictionary of the Province of Brabant), 1832
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
