A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vandekerckhove family of Belgium.
Reg. 2652 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois feuilles de nénuphar de gu.; au 2 d'azur à la croix pattée alésée d'arg.; au 3 de gu. au saut. engr. d'or. C.: une femme moresque iss., tort. d'arg. et d'azur, les bras remplacés par des ailes d'arg. S.: à dextre un dragon sans ailes de sin.; à sen. un cerf d'herm., ramé et ailé d'or.”
Belgiumc. 1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Belgium showing where the Vandekerckhove arms are recorded
The Vandekerckhove arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1650.
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.
Philip IV of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip IV of Spain
1621–1665
Reigning in Belgium when the Vandekerckhove 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 Vandekerckhove Family in Belgium
The name Vandekerckhove is a classic example of a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to identify people based on where they lived. In the Dutch language, the name translates to "from the church yard" or "from the church court." During the seventeenth century, individuals with this name were firmly established in the Brabant region, which was a prominent duchy within the Low Countries. Families often took such names to distinguish themselves from others in their village by referencing a local landmark, such as a parish church. By 1650, the name was already well-integrated into the local community, suggesting that the family had been rooted in the area for several generations prior to that date. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who lived in the rural landscapes surrounding the major cities of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kerkhof
A piece of enclosed land used as a cemetery or churchyard.
This name
VandekerckhoveRefers to someone who lived near or worked at the churchyard.
also spelled
van den Kerckhov
van den Kerckhoven
van den Kerchove
van den Kerkhova
Vandenkerchove
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. 1993
Leys, O. De familienamen in de geschiedenis van de Nederlandse taal. 1974
Rijksarchief in België (State Archives in Belgium), Parochieregisters van Brabant
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
leafHappiness and abundance
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
leafHappiness and abundance
