A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vandiver family of Belgium.
Reg. 8193 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 trois fleurs-de-lis au pied coupé de sa. (Aerschot); au fr.-q. de gu. plein (Albret). C.: un homme iss., hab. de sa., les mains levées. L. d'arg. et de sa. D.: NOMINE VAN DIEVE, NON RE.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
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 Vandiver arms are recorded
The Vandiver 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 Vandiver 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 Vandiver Family in Belgium
The Vandiver family name finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, which spans parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. By the early eighteenth century, the name was well-established in this area, reflecting a linguistic connection to the Dutch and Flemish naming patterns common to the Low Countries. The prefix "Van" typically denotes a place of origin, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely hailed from a specific village or geographic feature known as "Diver" or a similar variation. As the family moved and settled, the spelling evolved to accommodate different languages and regional pronunciations. These early members were part of a society deeply connected to trade and agriculture, which allowed them to maintain a consistent presence in the Brabant region before many family members eventually migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually the Americas.
Vandiver Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Van Dievoet
From the foot of the hill or slope.
This name
VandiverA locational surname indicating origin from a place situated at the base of a hill.
also spelled
van Dievele
van Dieven
van Diev
van Deev
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Smet, A., Geschiedenis van Brabant, 1964
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief in België), 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.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
