A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the van Dongen family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8319 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à deux fasces brét. et c.-brét. d'arg. C.: un chapeau d'arg., retr. d'or, accosté de deux serpents affr., courbés en forme de faucilles, celle à dextre de couleur verdâtre et celle à sen. de couleur brunâtre.”
Belgiumc. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the van Dongen arms are recorded
The van Dongen arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
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 van Dongen 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 Belgium.
Origin & History of the van Dongen Family in Belgium
The family name van Dongen originates from the historical region of Brabant, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. The name is locative, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from the village of Dongen. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within the social and economic fabric of the Brabant region. During this period, the area was characterized by a complex mix of agricultural life and growing trade networks. Families like the van Dongens often moved between local parishes to find work in farming or artisanal crafts. Because the region was a crossroads for travelers and merchants, the family name became a way to track lineage and local identity as people moved across the shifting borders of the Low Countries. This history reflects the broader movement of people who defined themselves by their home villages during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux fasces brét. et c.-brét. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg., ou (Arm. v. G.) deux têtes et cols de dragon affr. d'or. S.: deux griffons d'or.”
Netherlandsc. 1814
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Map of Netherlands showing where the van Dongen arms are recorded
The van Dongen arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1814.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1814
Granting Authority for the van Dongen Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the van Dongen Family in Netherlands
The surname van Dongen is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally used to identify people by the village or region where they lived. The name points directly to the town of Dongen, located in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands. During the medieval period, as populations grew and people began to move away from their birthplaces, individuals were often identified by their home village to distinguish them from others. While the family name has deep roots in the south, the presence of the family in the northern province of Friesland by 1814 highlights the internal migration patterns that occurred across the Netherlands during the nineteenth century. This movement was often driven by changes in employment, military service, or the search for new land, allowing the name to spread far from its original geographic origin. By the time the Dutch civil registration system was standardized in the early 1800s, the name had become firmly established as a hereditary surname, connecting families across the country to their ancestral ties in the province of North Brabant.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Donk
A low-lying, marshy, or swampy piece of land.
This name
van DongenRefers to a person who lived near or originated from a marshy area.
also spelled
van Dongon
van Dongin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rijksarchief in België, Parochieregisters van de provincie Noord-Brabant
Stadsarchief Breda, Doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken van Dongen
Leenders, K.A.H.W., Van Turnhout tot Dongen: Een historisch-geografische studie over de ontginning van de zandgronden, 1996
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
