Map of Belgium showing where the Swarts arms are recorded
The Swarts 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 Swarts 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 Swarts Family in Belgium
The family name Swarts originates from the Dutch and Low German word "zwart," which translates to "black." In the context of medieval naming customs, this was likely a descriptive nickname used to identify an individual by their dark hair, a swarthy complexion, or perhaps the dark clothing they frequently wore. By the time the family was documented in the region of Brabant in 1737, the name had transitioned from a personal descriptor into a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the eighteenth century, Brabant was a center of trade and agricultural activity, and families like the Swarts were often part of the local merchant or farming classes who helped shape the social fabric of the Low Countries. As the name spread, it evolved in spelling to reflect local dialects, eventually settling into the form recognized today as the family moved through various European territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Swart
Middle Dutch word meaning black or dark in color.
This name
SwartsA descriptive nickname originally used to identify a person with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Swartz
Swartes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Leys, O. De familienamen in de Nederlanden. 1987
Rijksarchief in België (State Archives in Belgium), Parochieregisters van Brabant
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feathersWilling obedience and serenity
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
