Map of France showing where the Six arms are recorded
The Six 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Six 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Six Family in France
The family name Six has deep roots in the region of Flanders, where historical records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic landscape of the Low Countries, a region known for its bustling trade and complex administrative systems. The name itself is thought to have originated as a nickname or a descriptive term, which was a common practice for identifying individuals in small, tight-knit communities before the widespread use of formal surnames. As the family established itself in the Flemish territory, they became integrated into the local culture, participating in the agricultural and mercantile activities that defined life in the seventeenth century. Over time, the name Six became a distinct marker of the family’s heritage, reflecting the historical evolution of naming customs in Western Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
sex
Latin term meaning the number six.
This name
SixA nickname or occupational name originally given to a sixth-born child.
also spelled
Syx
Sixx
Sicks
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Smet, J., De bevolking van Vlaanderen in de 17e eeuw, 1965
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), Parochieregisters van West-Vlaanderen, 1663
Van der Wee, H., The Growth of the Antwerp Market and the European Economy, 1963
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ringFidelity, and a promise kept
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